Mayor Don Plusquellic championed the idea of the JEDD as a way to expand the city's tax base without having to fight with its neighbors.
The purpose was to make infrastructure available to aid in the business development that will come due to the construction of an intermodal facility by the Norfolk Southern Railway, the presence of the Rickenbacker Freight Air Hub, business development by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority on property they own, and private industrial parks in the area.
The JEDD provides for the provision of sanitary sewer, water, roadway, connectivity and other infrastructure that will be necessary for new business location in the Rickenbacker area.
The long-term projection for additional logistics development is in the area of $9 billion and almost 70,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Other partners include the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, CompeteColumbus, Franklin County, the Villages of South Bloomfield and Ashville.