Business Development Specialist – City of Columbus, Department of Development

This is an entry level position within the Economic Development Division that is focused on recruiting businesses to expand, relocate, or consolidate business operations in the City. This position will meet with businesses, consultants, site selectors, etc. to ascertain needs for business growth and development. The incumbent will help to eliminate barriers for business growth within the City and where appropriate, recommend to City leadership business incentive packages to help existing businesses expand and recruit new businesses to Columbus.

Under general direction, is responsible for performing professional-level activities in support of attracting, expanding, and retaining business for the City of Columbus; performs related duties as required.

(Any one position may not include all of the duties listed, nor do the examples cover all of the duties that may be performed.)

Recruits businesses to relocate or consolidate business operations to the City;

Meets with businesses to discuss expansion plans and incentives that the City can offer;

Prepares incentives packages to attract new business to the City and to retain and support expansion opportunities of current businesses; prepares incentive legislation for City Council approval;

Promotes homeownership and residential growth for the City of Columbus;

Coordinates efforts and information with various City departments and area agencies to identify, attract, retain, and assist business and industry;

Researches and compiles demographic and economic data in response to prospective business inquiries; assists business owners with site selection;

Prepares letters of support for projects going to the Tax Credit Authority;

Administers various grant and loan programs to promote homeownership and residential growth; identifies requirements, according to federal, state, and program guidelines for the receipt of grants or contracts;

Informs businesses of the technical prerequisites for incentives, grant receipt, or contract bid acceptance;

Answers questions about grant and contract procedures and sources;

Maintains data on primary sources of funding and contracts for the target group;

Makes oral presentations to publicize and explain the business development program at trade fairs, local conventions, civic group meetings, developers, banks, and other financial institutions;

Refers businesses to agencies which may be of assistance in matters not addressed by the development program;

Analyzes loan applications and related documents; presents application to loan committee;

Serves as liaison to other City departments on housing issues;

May prepare or supervise the preparation of informational packages on the business development program’s purposes and procedures.

Minimum Qualifications

Possession of a bachelor’s degree and two (2) years of experience in city or regional planning, business development, grant, or contract preparation and review, purchasing, accounting, finance or a related field. Substitution(s): A master’s degree in administrative science may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.

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