COLUMBUS, Ohio (May 12, 2026) — The Franklin County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved a $3 million grant to support a 247-unit mixed-use residential development in Westerville, part of a consent agenda that also allocated more than $1.5 million for summer youth employment programs.

The board voted 3-0 on all 17 resolutions during its regular meeting, with no contentious debate. The Westerville project, developed by CAG Westerville Uptown Acquisitions LLC, will include seven studio apartments, 156 one-bedroom units, and 84 two-bedroom apartments, along with a 400-space parking garage. Under the agreement, 30% of the residential units will be income-restricted at 80% of the area median income for at least 18 years, and the developer will provide free broadband internet to those units for the same period.

Commissioner Kevin Boyce questioned the grant amount relative to the number of income-restricted units, but county staff confirmed the terms matched previous agreements with the developer, Continental Ventures. The board also approved a $4.5 million transfer to bond retirement funds for a $14.5 million June 1 debt service payment.

In other action, the commissioners authorized $1,534,712.83 in sub-agreements for the Ready to Earn Summer Youth Employment Program with Godman Guild, Lead the Way Learning Academy, and St. Stephens Community House. A separate $160,000 grant to Ohio Film Futures will fund a media production camp for youth ages 14 to 18, and a $50,000 grant to the Legacies United Foundation will support the Beyond the Game youth leadership initiative.

The board also accepted a $9,000 Ohio EPA grant for the annual shred hunger event and awarded a $649,825 contract to MP Dory Company for a 2026-2028 guardrail repair and upgrade program. A resolution authorizing the county engineer to apply for an ODOT Safe Routes to School grant for sidewalks near Ridgewood Elementary was also approved.

Commissioners adopted the 2026 Franklin County Drainage Engineer’s 10-year capital improvement program and an amendment to the county engineer’s 10-year plan for roads and bridges, which includes 84 projects, 12 of which were completed last year.

The board approved a $2,482,290 contract modification with Addisc Incorporated to upgrade the Office on Aging’s legacy case management system and a $152,000 contract extension with Illuminology for the 2026 Central Ohio Regional Assessment on Aging.

Annexation of 68.4 acres from Brown Township to the city of Hillyard was approved via an expedited Type 2 process. The board also authorized a $131,430 supplemental contract with Willow Products Company for demolition and installation of physical security doors at Franklin County Corrections Center 2, and approved 69 purchase orders totaling $578,797.72 for various county agencies.

Heather Renee Adams was appointed to the County Hospital Commission for an unexpired term ending Feb. 18, 2031.

Before the business agenda, Commissioner Erica C. Crowley highlighted May as Mental Health Awareness Month and urged distribution of the county’s free mental health resource guide, which she said has been in high demand. Commissioner Boyce noted the guide’s growing popularity, saying it had been used effectively in a recent personal loss in his community.