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Columbus Chosen as Host City for ESTO 2024, the Premier Event for Destination Marketers

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Experience Columbus, the destination marketing organization for the Columbus region, dedicated to growing visitor spending and enhancing the visitor experience, is proud to announce its selection as the host city for the U.S. Travel Association’s Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO) 2024. The event, which is coming to Columbus for the first time, will take place Aug. 10-13, 2024, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC). Celebrating its 40 th year in 2024, ESTO is the nation’s premier educational and networking event for destination marketing professionals. The four-day conference offers attendees the chance to network with the best in the travel industry, learn through sessions that showcase current and future trends and celebrate the year's best campaigns, promotions and creative during the Destiny and Mercury Awards program. Attendees will also give back to Columbus through ESTO Cares, a volunteer activity that supports and generates awareness for a local charitable organization.

"We are honored to have been selected as the host city for one of the most valuable conferences of the year in the tourism industry,” said Brian Ross, President and CEO of Experience Columbus. “We can’t wait to showcase Columbus to this important group of industry leaders and show them all that our city has to offer, from our vibrant and diverse neighborhoods to our welcoming and inclusive community to our top-rated attractions and experiences.”

The conference will have a significant economic impact on Columbus with more than 1,000 attendees expected, $1.6 million in anticipated direct visitor spend and a total of 2,439 room nights.

“We are thrilled to welcome ESTO attendees to our great state and show them why Ohio truly is the heart of it all,” said Lydia Mihalik, Director of the Ohio Department of Development, which oversees TourismOhio. “With so many unique attractions and activities to discover, visitors don’t just see Ohio has a place on a map. It’s a place in their minds, a place in their hearts, and a place they can’t wait to come back to.”

Columbus is quickly emerging as a top-tier meetings destination. Standout events like PCMA Convening Leaders 2023, which was attended by 3,300 participants in January and generated $4.2 million in direct visitor spending, as well the 2023 U.S. Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting held in June, showcase how the city rolls out the red carpet for major national and international events. With the U.S. Figure Skating Championships coming to Columbus in January 2024, the Major League Soccer All-Star Game in July 2024 and the recent win of securing ESTO 2024, Columbus stands poised to further solidify its reputation as a thriving hub for meetings and a remarkable year ahead.

“We look forward to bringing the 40 th edition of ESTO to creative and vibrant Columbus,” said Nan Marchand Beauvois, ESTO General Manager and Senior Vice President of Membership and Industry Relations at the U.S. Travel Association. “Ohio’s capital city is a proven and popular host for national meetings and events, and we are proud to add ESTO and its best-in-class programming to the lineup next year.”

To learn more about why Columbus is an ideal meetings destination and about the city’s dynamic convention package that can fit the needs of any group, visit experiencecolumbus.com/meetings . For more information about ESTO 2024, visit experiencecolumbus.com/esto2024 .   About Columbus, Ohio Columbus is a city unlike any other. Vibrant and alive, Ohio’s capital is known for its open attitude, smart style and entrepreneurial spirit. Columbus' blend of neighborhoods, dynamic nightlife, noteworthy music scene, arts and culinary experiences, events, attractions and accommodations are all made unforgettable by the diversity of its outgoing locals who eagerly await and warmly welcome visitors. Columbus is proud to have hosted the 2023 U.S. Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting in June and PCMA Convening Leaders 2023, which brought together the world's business events professionals in January. Free travel guides, maps, online booking and detailed information are available at www.ExperienceColumbus.com . Visitor information is also available on Instagram: @ExperienceColumbus, Facebook: @ExperienceColumbus , Threads: @ExperienceColumbus and TikTok: @ExperienceColumbus .

Media Contacts: Leah Berger, APR, ECI: [email protected] | 614-222-6145   Cameron Tirado, ECI: [email protected] | 610-389-6833 

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of Marketing Excellence

ESTO, now in its 40 th year, has a reputation for delivering dynamic and actionable content.  In this natural knowledge sharing environment, you can rest assured that the prime networking opportunities and sessions are there to elevate your marketing efforts in the DMO space with no hidden agendas. This is also a time to celebrate industry accomplishments with the Destiny and Mercury awards showcasing top campaigns in 18 categories. 

2024 Destiny & Mercury Award Submissions open April 16!

The ESTO Awards celebrate excellence in destination marketing campaigns. As the premier awards for destinations across the country, we will showcase the best of the unique and innovative campaigns and marketing efforts of our members.

Please click here to be added to the waitlist.

Business Journal Daily | The Youngstown Publishing Company

Column: Ohio Must Continue to Grow Its Tourism Industry

By Steve Stivers President and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce

In 2022, Ohio’s tourism industry generated $53 billion in visitor spending, the state’s highest ever. Even with this record-setting year, we need to continue to grow this industry due to Ohio’s robust economic growth setting it on pace to have more jobs than people in the state to fill them. 

Investing and putting focus on economic development related to Ohio’s travel and tourism efforts are a great way to help grow the population and fill open jobs.

The Ohio Chamber recently released our Blueprint for Ohio’s Economic Future, a report that analyzes Ohio’s economic outlook and compares it to that of other states. In creating this report, we identified six key areas for improvement, including “Sense of Place.”

Sense of place reflects the characteristics and resources that make a community a desirable place to live, work and visit. Investing in Ohio’s tourism and travel industry is an integral part of creating a strong sense of place that will keep Ohioans here and attract newcomers to our state. 

In the Blueprint, we highlight that it is equally as important that economic development policies focus on investing in amenities and quality of life in Ohio as it is that they invest in business attraction.

One of the ways the Blueprint recommends improvement in sense of place is by capitalizing on those many unique amenities the state has by analyzing the most impactful return on investment for amenities and natural environment in set areas. It urges us to find the most impactful attractions, opportunities and gaps in these amenities and reevaluate resources based on which features make the greatest impact on tourism, migration and sense of place.

Ohio has great parks, museums, libraries and other amenities that we must continue to invest in to grow the state’s sense of place. Investing in these amenities will help build qualities in the state that enhance the lives of current residents and that attract potential new citizens. Those qualities include a vibrant culture, sense of community and strong natural environments.

The state has already begun a forward movement in this process by investing more in Ohio’s parks, with a more than $150 million increase in investments toward state parks from 2018-2019 to 2020-2021. According to the Trust for Public Land, in 2022, Ohio had four cities ranked in the top 60 among the top 100 largest U.S. cities based on their park systems, including Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus and Cincinnati, which ranked No. 4.

The many amenities of the state provide a natural marketing tool for attracting new Ohio citizens, but physical advertising is just as important. According to the Ohio Department of Development, their visitation ads combined with a trip to Ohio more than doubled a person’s impression of Ohio as a good place to live, start a business and more.

Tourism in Ohio is a growing industry. Ohio saw a 6% increase in tourism visits from 2021 to 2022 and a 3% increase in tourism-supported jobs, totaling up to 233 million tourism visits and 424,339 tourism-supported jobs. These are great numbers, and the Ohio Chamber looks to help Ohio’s travel and tourism industry continue to grow.

To lead that effort, the Ohio Chamber recently hired former Ohio Tourism Director Matt MacLaren as its new director of Travel and Tourism Policy and created the new Ohio Chamber of Commerce Travel and Tourism Committee, which MacLaren will help lead. The committee’s first meeting was held Aug. 16, with 50 Ohio tourism leaders attending. They will meet quarterly, with the next meeting scheduled for Nov. 28.

The committee will help Ohio’s travel and tourism industry achieve recognition from the statewide level and will work to attract more visitors to the state, which will lead to more new citizens and workers. The committee will help put into action recommendations from the Blueprint on how to improve the sense of place in Ohio. The committee is open to all Ohio Chamber members at the Advocate membership level or above who are involved in Ohio’s travel and tourism industry. Many resourceful partner associations of the Chamber are a part of the committee, including the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association, the Ohio Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus, the Ohio Restaurant Association and the Ohio Travel Association.

Ohio public officials and economic development groups must find ways to develop dining, shopping and other commercial opportunities to enhance natural amenities around the state to add on to the already countless places that make people fall in love with Ohio – places like the shores of Lake Erie, Hocking Hills State Park and the many notable cities and college towns throughout the state.

We must continue to invest in and develop the state of Ohio’s tourism industry, not just to attract visitors and future residents but also to strengthen the sense of place for all current and future Ohioans.

Pictured at top: Image taken at Hocking Hills State Park. (Ohio Department of Natural Resources)

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.

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These are the top industries and employers in Columbus

Learn more about the biggest industries and employers in columbus with this guide to local businesses..

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Nationwide is one of the largest employers in Columbus. | Photo via Nationwide

More than a 1.8+ million people ( and thousands of businesses) contribute to the Columbus metro area’s $169+ billion economy . But have you ever wondered about the Capital City’s heaviest hitters?

Consider this Columbus Business 101 — your guide to our region’s 11 key industries and 10 major employers.

Note: The Columbus metro area is defined as Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield, Licking, Madison, Morrow, Pickaway, and Union counties, according to local data .

This will be Intel’s first semiconductor facotry in the Midwest. | Rendering via Intel

The key industries

There are 11 key industries that represent Columbus, and no industry holds more than an 18% share of the market, based on data from the City of Columbus Economic Development Division . We’ve listed them in order of employment numbers.

Professional and Business Services | 18% or 324,000 employees Of the 11 Fortune 1000 companies headquartered in the Columbus Region, five are also Fortune 500 companies. These businesses include Nationwide Insurance , AEP , and Hexion Inc.

Government | 16% or 288,000 employees Since Columbus is the capital of Ohio, that means large government agencies, such as the State of Ohio , are headquartered here. The State of Ohio employs 21,000+ people, and adding to that are other agencies like the Supreme Court of Ohio and the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The Supreme Court of Ohio is in downtown CBUS. | Photo by CBUStoday

Education and Health | 15% or 270,000 employees While healthcare providers such as OhioHealth , Nationwide Children’s Hospital + Cardinal Health are major employers in this category, The Ohio State University leads the way for education with 47,000+ employees. Other community colleges and local schools, like Columbus State Community College and Columbus City Schools, add to these totals.

Retail and Trade | 11% or 198,000 employees As one of the top retail cities in the country, Columbus is home to major brands like Abercrombie & Fitch , Express , and Big Lots . Thanks to Columbus’ central location in the US, some of these retailers, such as Bath and Body Works Inc. , are also some of the largest logistics companies in the city.

Leisure and Hospitality | 10% or 180,000 employees While national brands like Hilton have grown in size thanks to recent developments, fast food chains like Wendy’s + White Castle started in Columbus and add to this sizable number. Additionally, Columbus Hospitality Management oversees multiple hotels in the city, including the Courtyard Marriott OSU and the Hyatt Place Columbus/Worthington.

Hilton’s newest highrise hotel is open in Columbus. | Photo via Hilton Columbus Downtown

Manufacturing | 8% or 144,000 employees Manufacturing in Columbus comes in many different forms, but at the top of the list are Safelite , Whirlpool Corp. , and DHL . Most recently, Intel announced it will build a $28 billion semiconductor factory bringing 10,000 jobs to central Ohio. Local players such as Worthington Industries continue to grow, and other international brands like Anheuser-Busch InBev also carry a large employment presence.

Financial Activities | 7% or 126,000 employees JPMorgan Chase & Co. makes up a large chunk of this category as it employs 20,000+ people. And, if you know someone with a Huntington or Fifth Third bank account, that’s because these two financial agencies are both headquartered in Columbus.

Transportation and Utilities | 6% or 108,000 employees John Glenn International Airport + Rickenbacker International Airport provide international and national transport for both people and cargo. Since 2018, CMH has flown 8.1+ million passengers, while Rickenbacker has transported 300+ million pounds of cargo.

A new $2+ billion terminal is planned for CMH. | Photo via Brand Columbus

Wholesale Trade | 4% or 72,000 employees The Columbus region offers easy access to major national and global markets leading to logistics companies like XPO , UPS , and DHL having high employee counts. According to logistics data, Columbus is within a 10-hour drive of 46% of the US population.

Construction and Mining | 3% or 54,000 employees Steward Construction Services LLC + Compton Construction LLC , based in Columbus, were two construction businesses cited for their fast growth in recent years.

Other Services | 3% or 54,000 employees This encompasses all other businesses that don’t fit in the aforementioned categories, but combine to create a large employment base.

The major players

Now that we’ve established the major industries, we bet you’re curious for specific names. Whether you’re job hunting ( or just “casually prospecting”), here are 10 major employers — all that employ more than 2,000 workers on average.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. 17,480 employees | Financial Activities | Search jobs As one of the oldest financial institutes in the US, JPMorgan Chase ranks in the top five on Fortune’s most attractive employer by business students. The firm also scored a 100 on the Disability Equality Index.

Nationwide 16,000 total employees | Business Services | Search jobs Nationwide is one of the top local Fortune 1000 employers in the city as it can offer jobs through its insurance agency. This brand also has a wide reach throughout the city as it’s the namesake of the Columbus Blue Jackets’ home ice — Nationwide Arena.

Imagine walking into this lobby each day for work at JP Morgan Chase & Co.'s HQ. | Photo via JP Morgan Chase

Cardinal Health 8,660 total employees | Health Services | Search jobs Headquartered in Dublin, this medical supply company is one of the biggest in its field in Ohio. Fortune ranked Cardinal the 14th largest pubically traded business in Ohio.

Huntington Bank 5,741 total employees | Financial Activities | Search jobs Huntington offers jobs at both its various banks, as well as its headquarters right here in the city. The bank was founded in 1866 and has 1,000 branches in 11 states. It’s also the official bank for The Ohio State University.

American Electric Power (AEP) 4,500 total employees | Utilities | Search jobs AEP provides electricity to hundreds of thousands of Columbistes every day, adding to its total of 5.5 million people served across 11 states. The company offers positions at its headquarters at 1 Riverside Plaza, or as electricians and technicians.

Huntington Bank is the namesake for the Columbus Clipper’s home park. | Photo via Columbus Clippers

Victoria’s Secret 4,500 total employees | Retail | Search jobs This retailer rose to fame in the early 2000s thanks to its trendy takes on women’s underwear, lingerie, and activewear. It was previously in conjunction with Bath and Body Works under the L Brands, but they have since split into individual corporations.

Bath and Body Works 3,665 employees | Retail | Search jobs Formerly known as L Brands, this Columbus-based retailer boasts numerous storefronts, distribution centers, and a headquarters in Reynoldsburg.

DHL 3,161 employees | Logistics | Search jobs Join this fleet of delivery services that ensures 1.7+ billion parcels safely arrive at their destinations each year. This distribution mogul has been in the industry since 1969 when it was founded in San Francisco.

Bath and Body Works at Easton Town Center | Photo via Bath and Body Works

Bread Financial 3,086 employees | Finance | Search jobs This tech-focused company was founded in 1983, providing services like loyalty programs and direct marketing to other businesses. It moved to CBUS in 2019 from Texas after being located in the Lone Star state for decades.

Abercrombie & Fitch 3,081 employees | Retail | Search jobs This retailer features storefronts around Columbus + a massive campus in New Albany where its home office is located. Find jobs working the floor at stores, or helping coordinate next season’s hottest trends.

This information is derived from data published by the City of Columbus, One Columbus, and Fortune .

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In accordance with the Columbus City Code, Chapter 4114 - License and Registration - General Provisions, the Department of Building and Zoning Services issues licenses and registrations to individual contractors who wish to perform work within the city. All contractors performing work within the city are required to obtain the appropriate license or registration before they can apply for permits and begin the job. The purpose of issuing licenses and registrations is to provide minimum qualification standards and provide for the safety and welfare of the general public, owners and occupants of buildings and structures within the city. 

Listed below are various licenses and registrations required by our department, based on the specific area of work.

General Contractor

Download the General Contractor License Application Packet HERE (PDF, 376KB) for complete instructions, application and bond form.

Licensure Requirements :

• General Contractor Application; completed and notarized
• A Bond in the amount of $25,000 (bond form in license packet must be used)
• A Certificate of Liability Insurance listing City of Columbus, Department of Building & Zoning Services, 111 N Front Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, as a certificate holder, written by an insurance company licensed to do business in the State of Ohio.
• See the current BZS Fee Schedule for applicable fees

The City of Columbus does not currently require board approval for general contractors. However, general contractors may appear before the Board of Home Improvement and General Contractors for adjudication and/or due process complaints (filed against or by the contractor.)

General Contractor’s Permitted Scopes of Work:

City of Columbus registered general contractors are permitted to perform Construction of all new structures or buildings and structural additions, alterations or repairs to existing commercial or multi-family dwellings.

• Construction of all new structures or buildings (excluding accessory structures and garages for existing structures that contain 1, 2 or 3 family dwellings).
• Structural additions, alterations or repairs to existing commercial or multi-family dwellings and accessory structures or buildings.  Multi-family buildings are defined as any structure that contains 4 or more dwelling units.
• Coordinate and manage the modification, alteration, or repair of existing 1, 2 and 3 family dwellings. The general contractor is required to subcontract all work to City of Columbus licensed home improvement, mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractors that will perform the work with their own hands or see that the work is properly accomplished under their direct supervision.

Please note:  Contractors who wish to perform structural work on existing 1, 2 and 3 family dwellings (including construction of garages or accessory structures) must be licensed as a City of Columbus home improvement contractor. Please see the Home Improvement Contractor section for more information.

Home Improvement General Contractor

Download the Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) License Application Packet HERE for complete instructions and application.

HIC General Licensure Requirements:

• HIC Application; completed and notarized
• A copy of passing test results (score of 70% or higher) for 767 Ohio Home Improvement Contractor. See below for additional testing information.

See the current  BZS Fee Schedule  for applicable fees

Board Approval:

• Applications are reviewed by the Board of General and Home Improvement Contractors.
• Applicants must submit their application and payment no later than one (1) week prior to the next scheduled board meeting.
• Applicants are not required to be present at the board meeting. However, contractors may appear before the Board of Home Improvement and General Contractors for adjudication and/or due process complaints (filed against or by the contractor.)

HIC General Contractor Test Information:

• Schedule to take the exam  (select  ICC Contractors Non Authorized , enter  767  to locate the test.) For more information or study references, please contact International Code Council (ICC) at (877) 783-3926 or visit the  ICC website ;
• All passing exams are valid for one year from the date that a passing score was achieved. After 1 year from the date that a passing score was achieved on any required examination for a department-issued license, the passing score for that examination or examinations shall become invalid unless an application for licensure has been made.

Minimum Experience Required: 

The applicant for a home improvement general contractor license shall have a minimum of three (3) full years of “hands-on” experience in the one (1), two (2), and three (3) family home improvement field.

HIC General Permitted Scope of Work:

Home improvement refers to the repair, replacement, remodeling, alteration, conversion, modernization, improvement or addition of existing 1, 2, or 3 family dwellings to any land or building, which is used, or designed to be used, as a private residence or dwelling place for not more than 3 families and shall include, but not be restricted to, the construction, replacement or improvement of driveways, swimming pools, porches, garages, or fallout shelters.

City of Columbus (licensed) Home Improvement General Contractors are permitted to perform the following scopes of work:

• Structural additions, alterations, or repairs to existing 1, 2 and 3 family dwellings
• Construction of accessory structures and/or garages for 1, 2 and 3 family dwellings

Home improvement does not include:   

• The construction of a new home building or work done by a contractor in compliance with a guarantee of completion of a new building project
• The sale of goods or materials by a seller who neither arranges to perform nor performs directly or indirectly any work or labor in connection with the installation of or application of the goods or materials

Please note: Contractors who wish to perform structural work on four (4) or more family dwellings and/or commercial structures, or new construction other than residential garages and/or accessory structures, must be registered as a City of Columbus General Contractor. Please see the general contractor section for more information.

Home Improvement Limited Contractor

Download the Home Improvement Contractor License Application Packet HERE for complete instructions and application.

Limited Licensure Requirements:

Upon Board approval, the applicant will receive notification by certified mail with instructions on how to complete the remaining steps in the licensing process. Please do not come in for License processing until you have received approval notification by mail.

The applicant for a home improvement limited contractor license in fields of specialization shall have a minimum of one (1) full year of “hands-on” experience in that field for which a license is applied.

HIC Limited Permitted Scope of Work:

City of Columbus licensed home improvement limited contractors are permitted to perform one or more of the following scopes of work (based on board approval):

• Residential roofing
• Residential siding, windows, and doors
• Residential deck installation
• Residential basement waterproofing
• Residential prefabricated fireplaces and wood or coal stoves
• Residential masonry fireplaces
• Residential fencing
• Residential sidewalks and driveway approaches
• Residential exterior lathing and stucco
• Residential swimming pools and spas
• Residential asphalt paving
• Residential irrigation sprinkler
• Residential gypsum board

Demolition Contractor

Download the Demolition Contractor License Application Packet HERE for complete instructions and application.

• Demolition Contractor Application; completed and notarized

Minimum Work Experience Required: 

The applicant must have a minimum of three (3) full years of experience in the demolition field immediately preceding the date of application

Demolition Contractor Permitted Scope of Work:

City of Columbus registered demolition contractors are permitted to remove any structure to grade which shall include 1, 2, and 3 family dwellings and buildings, structures, or sites associated therewith. A duly registered demolition contractor is any person that provides the means, processes, and procedures for razing or removing all of a building, structure, or appurtenance from a property governed by the City of Columbus Building Code.

OCILB Contractor (Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board

In order to work in the City of Columbus as an electrical, HVAC, refrigeration, hydronics, or plumbing contractor, applicants must be licensed by the State of Ohio, in the trade for which application is being made. If you do not currently hold the required State license, please click the link below. You will be redirected to the State of Ohio's website. Once you have obtained the required State license, you may proceed with the City of Columbus application process.

State of Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board

Due to the State licensure requirement, the City of Columbus does not require board approval for OCILB contractors. However, OCILB contractors may appear before Skilled Trades Review Board for adjudications or due process complaints (filed against or by the contractor).

Journeyperson Plumber

Download the Journeyperson Plumber Application Packet  HERE  for complete instructions and application.

Journeyperson Plumber Licensure Requirements:

• Journeyperson Plumber Application; completed and notarized
• A copy of passing test results (score of 70% or higher) for the National Standard Journeyman Plumber – F25 exam. See below for additional testing information.
• Applications are reviewed by the Skilled Trades Review Board
• Applicants must submit their application and payment no later than  one (1) week prior  to the next scheduled board meeting.
• Applicants are not required to be present at the board meeting. However, contractors may appear before the Board for due process complaints (filed against or by the contractor.)

 Test Information:

• Schedule to take the exam (enter “F25” into the Search by Exam title search field and click “Search.”). Study references can be found under Contractor/Trades Examination Bulletin published by ICC.

The applicant must have a minimum of 5 full years of experience in the plumbing trade installing building services plumbing systems and apparatus including potable water systems; or, completed a United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship Training (USDOL, BAT) certified plumbing apprenticeship program.

Alternatively, in lieu of the above requirements, an applicant for any license may be:

• An engineer, registered in Ohio, in the specific field of work for the type of license for which application is made; or
• A graduate engineer, with at least 1 full years’ experience as a designer or installer in the specific field of work for the type of license for which application is made. A full year of experience, shall be based on 12 consecutive calendar months during which the applicant shall have been gainfully and verifiably employed for not less than 1,600 working hours at the specific craft, trade or profession for which an application for a department-issued license has been made.

  Additional Information:

The City of Columbus requires and issues licenses for individuals who intend to work in the City of Columbus as a journeyperson plumber. Per City of Columbus Code Section 4114.107, no Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) licensed specialty plumbing contractor shall employ any person to work at the trade of journeyperson other than a duly licensed journeyperson plumber licensed by the department. No person shall engage in or work at the trade as journeyperson plumber until he or she shall have first procured a department-issued journeyperson plumber's license.

In addition, no department-licensed journeyperson plumber shall contract or carry out a contract for the construction, installation, repairing or altering of any plumbing, or furnish plumbing material therefor, within the corporation limits of the city, or represent or advertise himself, either publicly or privately, as being ready, willing or able to contract to perform such work or furnish such material within the corporation limits of the city. 

General or Limited Sign Erector

Download the Sign Erector Contractor Application Packet  HERE  for complete instructions and application.

Sign Erector Contractor Licensure Requirements:

• Sign Erector Contractor Application; completed and notarized
• Exhibits/photos detailing the actual signs fabricated, erected or otherwise installed by the applican
• Applications are reviewed by the Board Review of General and Limited Sign Erectors
• Applicants are REQUIRED to attend the board meeting.
• Limited Sign Erector : An application for a license as a limited sign erector shall have a minimum of three (3) years’ experience in erection and fabrication of signs.
• General Sign Erector : An applicant for a license as a general sign erector shall have a minimum of five (5) years’ experience in erection and fabrication of signs.

The applicant for either license who does not meet the requirements of A or B above may present a complete statement of qualifications to the board for its consideration. If the board determines that such person is qualified by reason of experience, training, or education or any combination thereof, it shall certify the name of the eligible applicant to the department.

Sign Erector Contractor Permitted Scope of Work:

• Limited Sign Erector: A limited sign erector shall only engage in the erection, maintenance and removal of painted and non-illuminated graphics no more than sixty-four (64) square feet in area, limited to sixteen (16) feet in height, and not installed over the public right-of-way
• General Sign Erector : A general sign erector may erect and service all graphics allowed by this Graphics Code.

Sewer, Water, or Combined Sewer & Water Contractor

Download the Sewer & Water Contractor Application Packet  HERE  for complete instructions and application.

Sewer & Water Contractor Licensure Requirements:

• Sewer & Water Contractor Application; completed and notarized (Individual name, and company name if applicable, must be listed identically on all documents.)
• A Bond in the amount of $25,000. The enclosed bond form must be used.
• A Certificate of Liability Insurance listing City of Columbus, Department of Building & Zoning Services, 111 N Front Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, as a certificate holder, written by an insurance company licensed to do business in the State of Ohio
• Approved application and board approval letter from Department of Public Utilities (per code section 4114.505) (see additional information below)

Before submitting an application to the Department of Building and Zoning Services, contractors must first obtain approval from the Department of Public Utilities (DPU). Once you have received the required approval, you may submit an application, to be licensed as a sewer, water, or combination sewer and water contractor to the Department of Building and Zoning Services.

The tentative meeting schedule for the Department of Public Utilities Contractor Review Committee is the 3rd Thursday of every month. Please do not submit the water and sewer application packet to the Department of Building and Zoning Services for license processing until you have received approval notification from Public Utilities. If additional information is needed, please call the Department of Public Utilities Contractor Review Committee staff person at (614) 645-7490.

Contractors who have been approved by DPU, and issued a license (by the Department of Building and Zoning Services) will be overseen by the Skilled Trades Review Board. The board meets once per month. Once a license has been issued, it may be necessary for contractors to appear before the Skilled Trades Review Board for Adjudications or Due process complaints (filed against or by the contractor).

Minimum Work Experience:

• Have a minimum of three (3) years of cumulative work experience, under the supervision of a Columbus or other recognized jurisdiction's licensed contractor, on sewer lines, water systems (including water service lines and taps), or combined sewer and water lines or systems
• Hold a current, valid license as a contractor in another recognized city, county, or state to work on sewer, water, or combined sewer and water lines or systems
• Have a minimum of two (2) full years of experience working on sewer lines, water systems, or combined sewer and water lines or systems.

Related Code Information:   Chapter 1131 LICENSING OF SEWER CONTRACTORS

Fire Contractor

Download the Fire Contractor Application Packet  HERE  for complete instructions and application.

Fire Protection Contractor Application Requirements:

Fire Protection Company:

• Ohio Division of State Fire Marshal Registration Application; completed and notarized
• A Bond in the amount of $25,000. The enclosed bond form must be used
• A copy of the company’s current certificate with Ohio’s Division of State Fire Marshal (See State Fire Marshal website for more information if needed)

Individual Installer:

• Ohio Division of State Fire Marshal Registration Application for the Individual
• A copy of both sides of the Individual Installer’s current certificate with Ohio’s Division of State Fire Marshal. A copy of the Company’s current certificate with Ohio’s Division of State Fire Marshal.

Registration Fee:

Due to the state licensure requirement, the City of Columbus does not require board approval for fire contractors. However, fire contractors may appear before the Skilled Trades Review Board for due process complaints (filed against or by the contractor).

Fire Contractor Scope of Work:

Registered fire protection companies are permitted to perform work for which the associated fire certified installer registration has been issued. Issuance of a City of Columbus fire certified installer registration shall be determined by the categories listed on the license issued by the Ohio Division of State Fire Marshal, Bureau of Licensing and Certification.

Special Inspectors

Special Inspector Application

Special Inspector Qualifications

Special Inspector Licensure Requirements:

• Special Inspector Application; completed and notarized.
• Copy of a resume listing the minimum qualifications for each special inspection category requested and a current copy of all certification(s) must be attached to the complete registration application.

Special inspector applications are reviewed by the Columbus Building Commission . The commission meets once per month. Applicants must submit their application and payment no later than one (1) week prior to the next scheduled board meeting. Applicants are not required to be present at the board meeting. However, special inspectors may appear before the Columbus Building Commission for due process complaints (filed against or by the contractor). 

Special Inspector Scope of Work:

City of Columbus registered special inspectors perform and report on inspections that are specific to certain aspects of building construction and outside the expertise of inspectors employed with this department, which include:

• Steel Construction (High-Strength Bolts)
• Steel Construction (Welding)
• Concrete Construction
• Masonry Construction
• Wood Construction
• Driven Deep Foundation
• Cast-in-Place Deep Foundations
• Helical Pile Foundations
• Fabricated Items
• Wind Resistance
• Seismic Resistance
• Testing of Seismic Resistance
• Sprayed Fire-Resistance Material
• Mastic and Intumescent Fire-Resistant Coatings
• Exterior Insulations and Finish Systems
• Water-Resistive Barrier Coatings
• Fire-Resistant Penetrations and Joints
• Smoke Control Systems
• Photovoltaic Systems

A special inspection is an inspection of construction that requires the expertise of an approved special inspector in order to ensure compliance with the Ohio Building Code and the approved documents.  Generally speaking, it is an inspection requiring extensive knowledge, equipment or testing above what a certified building inspector or department can reasonably provide.  A list of special inspections can be found in Chapter 17 of the Ohio Building Code and are listed on Statement of Special Inspections form that accompanies some plan approval letters issued by the Department of Building and Zoning Services.

Building and Zoning Services 111 North Front Street Columbus, OH 43215

(614) 645-7433

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Students explore Nashvilles history and industry on CRISP Spring Break

Students explore Nashville’s history and industry on CRISP Spring Break 

By Paige Galperin

Nashville is the home of country music, but the nearly two dozen ODI Scholars and international students who traveled there over Spring Break found much more. During the five-day trip, hosted by the OIA Global Engagement department and ODI CRISP unit, students explored the connections between Nashville's entertainment industry and social justice, delved into the city's history, and connected with local industry professionals.

Sponsored in part by CRISP corporate partners Aldi, Enterprise Mobile, IGS Energy, and JM Smucker Company, the trip was organized into three types of experiences: history and civil rights, corporate industry, and service.

Students learned about Nashville's history and social justice roots through tours of the Broadway Historic District, Country Music Hall of Fame, Civil Rights Room at the Nashville Public Library, and National Museum of African American Music—an aspect of the trip that was especially meaningful to Jacob Jones, a second-year Morrill Scholar and finance major.

“To be in Nashville and learn the history of everything was so cool. It was stuff that you wouldn't see on social media or that people don't talk about on the daily,” Jones said. “Getting that knowledge firsthand was definitely beneficial because now I can share that with others.”

Other parts of the trip focused on professional development through corporate visits. Students visited Nissan's headquarters and Nissan United agency, where they witnessed the behind-the-scenes creation of a Super Bowl commercial targeting Spanish-speaking car buyers.

They also toured an Amazon sortation center and second corporate headquarters, and some students met with an Ohio State alum Erwin Raphael, Amazon's Regional Director of Operations and co-founder of the Lantern Network, a CRISP partner that provides mentoring opportunities to young adults.

For Dedra Robbins, a second-year Young Scholar majoring in strategic communication, connecting with Raphael was particularly impactful. “He expressed to me and another student that he saw potential in us, and he encouraged us to apply for the Lantern Network Mentorship Program, which I did apply for and interviewed with,” Robbins commented. “That was a great experience and made me feel like I got a really big gain out of the trip.”

The service portion of the trip took place at Rose Park Middle School, where students completed various school improvement projects such as planting flowers, replacing air filters, building cabinets, decorating bathrooms, and writing encouraging notes to the middle schoolers.

Other activities allowed students to simply have fun and connect, such as visits to Pins Mechanical arcade, the Ryman Auditorium, and Nearest Green Distillery. Meals also introduced students to Southern cuisine, from fried chicken to BBQ.

While students emerged from the trip with a greater understanding of Nashville's history and professional resources, they also returned to Columbus with deeper ties to one another: “I made some great connections, not only through the networking of the different programs that were planned, but just with peers on the trip as well,” Robbins said. “I would definitely encourage everyone to apply next year. Either you're going to find out you know someone who's going, or you're going to meet someone who becomes your friend.”