Columbus Approves $300,000 Grant to Aspyr for EDGE Workforce Program
The legislation includes a $187,500 Civil Service Commission budget transfer to fund specialized re-entry services for justice-involved residents.
Columbus City Hall and Portman Plaza at 90 W. Broad Street in downtown Columbus, Ohio.
Credit: General Ization / Wikimedia Commons Image source
A Columbus municipal ordinance authorizes an advance payment grant of up to $300,000 to the nonprofit organization Aspyr to fund the 2027–2028 EDGE Program.
The legislation authorizes the city auditor to transfer $187,500 from personnel funds to expenditure accounts within the Civil Service Commission's General Fund budget to make grant funding available. The total $300,000 commitment is already funded within the commission's 2026 budget.
The EDGE initiative, which stands for Empower Development by Gaining Employment, is an intensive five-month workforce program designed to help justice-involved individuals overcome barriers to skilled employment. Operating at no cost to participants, the program identifies residents through Aspyr and partnering agencies to provide skills training and work opportunities, including health assessments and life coaching, to assist in returning to the community and workforce.
Municipal officials noted that the partnership is necessary because the city does not offer many of the specialized services critical to the program's success.
Aspyr, located at 1650 Lake Shore Drive, will administer the 2027–2028 EDGE Program. Municipal records indicate Aspyr, formerly known as the Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio, has a vendor status pending recertification. The organization is not debarred or prohibited from receiving contracts under federal listings or state recovery findings.
The grant agreement runs for one year from its execution date through the submission of an agreement closeout report by the organization.
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The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Supporting evidence (9)
A Columbus municipal ordinance authorizes an advance payment grant of up to $300,000 to the nonprofit organization Aspyr to fund the 2027–2028 EDGE Program.
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This ordinance authorizes the Executive Director of the Civil Service Commission to enter into an advance payment grant agreement per a predetermined schedule to be included in the agreement, with Aspyr, formerly known as Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio - (WDBCO), a not-for-profit organization, for the purpose of funding the 2027-2028 EDGE Program. This $300,000.00 advanced payment grant is allocated to support the City’s partnership with Aspyr for the implementation of the 2027-2028 EDGE Program.
The legislation authorizes the city auditor to transfer $187,500 from personnel funds to expenditure accounts within the Civil Service Commission's General Fund budget to make grant funding available.
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$187,500.00 of the funds needed for this advanced payment grant agreement need to be transferred from Object Class 01 - Personnel to Object Class 05 - Other Expenditures to make funds available where needed.
The total $300,000 commitment is already funded within the commission's 2026 budget.
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The total expenditure amount of $300,000.00 is funded within the Commission’s 2026 budget.
Operating at no cost to participants, the program identifies residents through Aspyr and partnering agencies to provide skills training and work opportunities, including health assessments and life coaching, to assist in returning to the community and workforce.
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The program will identify individuals, through Aspyr and their partnering agencies, to receive a myriad of programs and services including work experience opportunities, health assessment, and life and occupational skills training, etc., designed to assist participants with successfully transitioning back into the community and workforce.
Municipal officials noted that the partnership is necessary because the city does not offer many of the specialized services critical to the program's success.
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This partnership is necessary because the City does not offer many of the specialized services critical to the success of this program.
Aspyr, located at 1650 Lake Shore Drive, will administer the 2027–2028 EDGE Program.
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with Aspyr, 1650 Lake Shore Drive, Suite 110, Columbus, Ohio 43204, for an amount up to $300,000.00, for the administration of the 2027-2028 EDGE Program.
Municipal records indicate Aspyr, formerly known as the Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio, has a vendor status pending recertification.
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Aspyr (formerly known as Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio), Vendor #018152, (not-for-profit). Expires (pending recertification)
The organization is not debarred or prohibited from receiving contracts under federal listings or state recovery findings.
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The company is not debarred according to the Excluded Party Listing System of the Federal Government or prohibited from being awarded a contract according to the Auditor of State Unresolved Findings for Recovery Certified Search.
The grant agreement runs for one year from its execution date through the submission of an agreement closeout report by the organization.
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The term of this grant agreement will be for a period of one (1) year from the date of execution by the City of Columbus through submission of an Agreement closeout report by the Grantee.
https://franklinton.org/?resource-item=edge-program
Supporting evidence (2)
The EDGE initiative, which stands for Empower Development by Gaining Employment, is an intensive five-month workforce program designed to help justice-involved individuals overcome barriers to skilled employment.
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The EDGE (Empower Development by Gaining Employment) Program is an intensive, five-month program designed to help individuals with involvement in the criminal justice system overcome barriers to skilled employment opportunities.
Operating at no cost to participants, the program identifies residents through Aspyr and partnering agencies to provide skills training and work opportunities, including health assessments and life coaching, to assist in returning to the community and workforce.
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There is no cost to participate in the EDGE Program.