Happy Fall, Columbus!

As I reflect on a fantastic summer, I am grateful for all of the great activities our city had to offer, including packed festivals, concerts at the Columbus Commons and, perhaps most notably, over $20 million in direct support for summer youth programming. But the arrival of fall does not mean the fun is over. I look forward to our final Rise Up! CBUS in the Hilltop tomorrow, Sept. 28, and CelebrateOne’s First Birthday Party on Saturday, Oct. 7 – with many more exciting events coming down the pike. Be sure to follow my Facebook, Instagram and X accounts for regular updates on opportunities to stay connected and involved across the community.

Sincerely,

Mayor Andy Ginther

Summer programming keeps youth safe

Summer camps and programs serve as safe, constructive outlets for youth to learn, grow and develop. This summer, the City of Columbus devoted $20.1 million toward keeping teens and kids engaged, preparing them for future careers, and helping them to get outside and play— all while keeping their minds sharp in preparation for the new school year. According to the latest count, our summer programming reached over 15,000 participants.

Summer programs are also a reliable way to connect kids with nutritious meals. I am proud to share that our Go Lunch! program served over 240,800 meals.

We have an obligation to invest in every person who calls Columbus home – particularly our young people. And we owe it to our future leaders to provide them with the skills and knowledge they need to lay the groundwork for a lifetime of success.

New affordable apartments replace abandoned music venue

Last week, I celebrated the opening of The Sinclair apartments with the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, NRP Group, the Ohio Housing Financing Agency, Huntington National Bank and State Senator Hearcel Craig. These 180 high-quality, affordable apartments mark a major milestone in my Columbus Housing Strategy, our blueprint for building the housing we need while including everyone in our region’s prosperity.

At the end of the day, no resident should have to spend more than 30 percent of their income to live in safe housing in a neighborhood of their choice. And a family earning $50,000 a year should be able to choose where their family lives. By working with our partners across the region, I’m confident we’ll make this aspiration a reality for our city.

Congratulations to our rising stars in the Division of Fire

I applaud the 47 Columbus Division of Fire graduates for stepping up and committing themselves to one of our city’s most essential, dynamic and respected professions. I also commend our 3rd Fire Cadet Class, a program I started with former Fire Chief and Public Safety Director Ned Pettus to increase diversity so that our firefighters better reflect the communities they serve.

We also welcome K9 firefighter teams Jeremy Thoma and Labrador, Harry; and State Fire Marshal Jeff Koehn and Labrador, Harley. These teams will join the arson detection division, specializing in detecting 10 different liquids commonly used to start arson fires.