Columbus City Council approved a revised a tax incentive package Monday for Nationwide Children's Hospital as the hospital goes ahead with its $1.27- billion expansion.
That includes a new 14-story acute care tower to be finished by 2028, plus a parking garage, a new energy plant and the renovation of the Ann Wolfe inpatient facility.
The hospital also plans to create 7,500 new jobs over 15 years,
In 2015, Columbus City Council approved a tax incentive package that gave the hospital a $15 million break equal to 30% of the city's income tax withheld on the Columbus payroll of new employees at the end of each year for up to 15 years. That was amended in 2017.
The hospital then said it would be investing $189 million into renovations and expansion of the hospital campus while creating 1,500 more jobs. That includes the six-story office building at Parsons and Livingston avenues and the six-story ambulatory center at Grant and Livingston avenues.
Columbus Department of Development spokeswoman Christine Reedy said in an emailed statement that Nationwide Children’s Hospital has been in compliance with its original jobs growth incentive agreement, a performance-based incentive focused on new job and payroll creation.
"With the hospital’s plans to make a significant investment in pediatric healthcare at its main campus, they anticipate steady job growth over the 15-year extension period. The Department of Development amended the agreement to accommodate this growth," Reedy said in the statement.
Hospital spokeswoman Michelle Fong said in an email that the new 14-story tower will include 432 beds, intensive care units, hematology/oncology, and an expanded emergency department with growth for future operating rooms.
The original tax break agreement was to last through 2031. The new legislation extends the agreement through 2039.
