Monday, April 30, 2012
Contact:
Hanna Greer, Franklin County Commissioners, 614/525-5848
Scott Varner, Franklin County Commissioners, 614/525-6638
Playing a unique role in the effort to create at least 525 new full-time local jobs at a growing Columbusbased company, Franklin County Commissioners are expected to approve a first-of-its-kind economic development grant aimed directly at training workers for the soon-to-be-created job openings.
On Monday, County Commissioner President Paula Brooks joined Ohio Governor John Kasich and Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman to announce a joint economic development package for health care coordination company Quantum Health, located in northern Franklin County.
The state, county and city economic development incentives include a variety of financial tools, including loans, grants and tax incentives. In return, Quantum Health would agree to maintain its headquarters and the majority of its staff in Columbus.
Over the next 33 months, Quantum Health expects to create at least 525 full-time jobs, most averaging more than $22/hour.
To fill these positions, Franklin County is investing $75,000 as part of this job creation package, with the dollars going directly to Quantum Health’s robust workforce training program
“As the County and its partners work together to create opportunities for business growth, we are also investing in ways to help companies train and grow their workforce,” said Commissioner President Brooks. “Our strategy to attract new businesses and retain the companies we already have in Franklin County is ultimately about putting and keeping people in good-paying, stable jobs.”
The effort to keep and grow this rapidly-expanding heath care company was initiated by Columbus 2020, an 11-county regional public-private economic development partnership.
“We are working together to grow our local economy and create good jobs, by ensuring that our existing companies are thriving and that innovations, such as those at Quantum Health, are cultivated,” added Commissioner Marilyn Brown, who also sits on the board of Columbus 2020. “Quantum Health has already begun to actively recruit and hire talented people through local job fairs.”
As part of the agreement, Quantum Health will work with Franklin County Job and Family Services and its partners, such as the Central Ohio Workforce Investment Corporation (COWIC) and the County’s Workforce Experience Program, to find and train qualified workers to consider in filling the new jobs.
“This is the first time the County has invested directly into workforce training as part of a larger partnership-based incentive package,” said County Commissioner John O’Grady. “We recognize that to be able to compete for the jobs of the future, we must invest in our region’s greatest assets: hardworking men and women who want good-paying, stable jobs.”
The new jobs include experienced nurses, patient service representatives, information technology, marketing, customer engagement and other professional jobs needed to fully support a growing national client base.
County Commissioners are expected to approve the economic development grant agreement in late-May.