COLUMBUS, Ohio — The City of Columbus announced a two-year economic pilot program that would improve financial security, health and well-being of hundreds of households.
According to a press release, the city is investing $2.5 million in the Economic Mobility Accelerator Program for cash payments to Columbus residents who are employed with earnings above the federal poverty level but below central Ohio’s cost of living.
Income qualifications will vary by household size.
“Columbus residents are challenged to make ends meet, with 44% of the households in our city employed in jobs that do not pay enough to cover our region’s cost of living. By directly investing in our neighbors, we are directly investing in their success, in higher wage opportunities and overall quality of life for our families,” said Mayor Andrew Ginther.
Monthly payments of $500 can be used to pay for housing, health care, childcare or transportation. Those who receive the money will have to participate in and graduate from one of six programs offering job training, career services or wealth-building guidance to remain eligible for direct funding assistance.
Those programs include:
- Alvis Inc., EDGE (Empowering Development By Gaining Employment) Program – Occupational training provided to Columbus restored citizens.
- Columbus Urban League, Career Connect Hub (CCH) Program – Wraparound education, jobs training and financial literacy services for ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households.
- Goodwill Columbus, Commercial Driver’s License Training – Program offers low- and moderate-income individuals a Class A Commercial Driver’s License training course and funding for two attempts at the CDL exam. Academy also includes wraparound career/employer relationships to aid graduates in job placement.
- New Directions Career Center, E3 – Educate, Empower, Elevate Program – Suite of holistic career services aimed at underemployed women. The majority of past participants are female-headed ALICE renter households earning under $40,000 per year.
- RISE Center & CMHA, Ready, Set, RISE Programs – Collection of programs addressing barriers to generational wealth. Participants receive career and life navigation and employment programs.
- United Way of Central Ohio, Tax Time Program – Financial resources and tax assistance wealth-building initiative.
“Through this program, we're giving Columbus residents a crucial stepping stone from simply getting by to truly thriving,” said Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin. “By investing directly in our neighbors’ potential, we're creating pathways for economic stability, empowerment and generational progress, ensuring that every family in our city has the opportunity to build a future they deserve.”