COLUMBUS – Columbus city officials Monday announced a $25 million plan to help advance affordable housing and economic development in Linden.
The 614 for Linden is a collaboration of six nonprofit groups and four community development financial institutions to address four priorities named in the One Linden Community plan unveiled last year.
The funds will be used to preserve approximately 500 affordable housing units in the Northeast Side neighborhood intended for individuals and families who earn less than 80 percent of the area median income. The collaborative will also find housing for up to 200 people who are either homeless or facing homelessness; assist small businesses with consulting and other services and microloans to entrepreneurs trying to start a business or expand; improve “wraparound’ health services, such as prenatal and maternal programs; and provide funding to help attract a retailer that would provide healthy food options to a neighborhood where a Kroger store recently closed, leaving the area with no major grocery outlet.
The collaborative recently received a $5 million investment as a national winner of JPMorgan Chase’s Partnerships for Raising Opportunity in Neighborhoods initiative.
“Thanks to JPMorgan Chase’s investment, the partners in The 614 for Linden will help the neighborhood stabilize and expand housing options, support entrepreneurs and develop businesses, build community investment, connect the community and support resident health,” Mayor Andrew J. Ginther said.