Fiber takes leap forward

Fiber-optic cables use glass or plastic fibers to transmit data. These cables are capable of transmitting data at speeds 1,000 times faster than a typical broadband connection.

The Delaware Area SuperHighway (DASH), a public-private consortium formed to advance the goal of a fiber-optic cable network in Delaware County, got a boost last week from the Delaware County Commissioners with the support of Delaware Mayor Windell Wheeler.  According to the Delaware Gazette, officials will now begin putting out for bid projects to design and install a publicly-funded fiber-optic network.

At Monday’s joint session of the Delaware County Commissioners and Delaware City Council, Commissioner Todd Hanks cited fiber as the “4th utility” in addition to electricity, water, and sewer.  Mayor Wheeler added that fiber is an important part of positioning both the city and county for economic development.

For more  information about the Commissioners’ legislation, visit their website.  And be sure to look out for more information about the Delaware Area SuperHighway as it develops.

Revolving Loan Fund

RLF funds are often used to upgrade equipment.

Public-private partnerships have perhaps never been more important than they are now. With the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act earlier this year, the amount of federal funding available for business development has never been greater.

But did you know that funds are available from local governments, too? Delaware County and the City of Delaware both operate Revolving Loan Funds to aid in the expansion and retention of businesses by offering low-interest business development loans. According to the County’s economic development website, loans are available for manufacturing, distribution, retail, office, and commercial uses.

For more information about the county’s revolving loan fund process, check out this online brochure, and this application. Please feel free to contact the County’s economic development office with any questions. Sometimes a recession can be a great time to grow a business, and public-private partnerships can be a great way to do that.

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium expanding

In May, the Delaware County Commissioners voted to contribute $10,000 in RLF funds to assist the Columbus Zoo in paying for a feasibility study to determine whether the timing is right to build a hotel at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Consider also the Polar Frontier exhibit, currently under construction and opening in 2010, and the planned African Savannah exhibit, set to open in 2014, and it becomes clear that the Columbus Zoo is experiencing a healthy pattern of growth and development.

This expansion has not gone unnoticed nationally. Earlier this year, the USA Travel Association ranked the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium as the #1 zoo in the United States.  The Columbus Zoo had been No. 2 after the San Diego zoo for a number of years.

The Delaware County Port Authority is proud to be involved in this expansion. Check back soon for some more information (and video content) about the role the Port has played in helping the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium continue to grow. Also, check out the Zoo’s website: www.columbuszoo.org

Prevailing wage ruling favorable to economic development

The Ohio Supreme Court wrapped up the month of June with a ruling that may impact many of Ohio’s businesses, particularly those with public-private partnerships.

In Ohio, “public improvement” projects must pay union wages to workers.  However, under the ruling, any projects receiving only partial public funding (such as grants from the Ohio Department of Development and local agencies) are not automatically subject to the prevailing wage laws.

The Associated Builders and Contractors of Ohio argued that extending the prevailing wage laws in Ohio could harm economic development efforts in the state by raising construction costs by as much as 20%.

This decision came as good news to the Ohio economic development community, who increasingly look to partial public funding as an option for business expansion.

For more information about the prevailing wage ruling, visit the ruling’s page on Ohio Supreme Court’s website.