Last night in his State of the City address, Mayor Coleman announced that the Columbus Idea Foundry would be moving to East Franklinton. Today we can confirm that the specific destination is 421 W. State Street, a building the Franklinton Development Association purchased last summer with the help of a Green Columbus Grant from the city.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with the Franklinton Development Association to relocate to such an exciting part of the city”, said Alex Bandar, founder of the Columbus Idea Foundry. “Proximity to COSI will make coprogramming easier with them, and adjacency to 400 West Rich will allow us to provide convenient workshop resources to dozens more artists.”
When asked what drew him specifically to this building in Franklinton, Bandar cited a space that is larger and better-suited to the programming offered by the organization; “the opportunity to occupy a much larger, more attractive, and more industrially functional space will allow us to accomplish much more than we can at our current location, as well as to secure our ability to continue our mission for years to come.”
Both Bandar and Jim Sweeney, Executive Director of the Franklinton Development Association, expressed enthusiasm for the project’s potential and appreciation to the Mayor for helping to bring it about.
“We’re very excited to be partnering with the Columbus Idea Foundry to bring them to our building at 421 West State,” said Sweeney, “Alex’s vision is a perfect fit for what we’re trying to build in East Franklinton.”
Added Bandar; “We’re hugely grateful for the vision that Jim Sweeney had to seek us out, and humbled by the interest we’ve received on behalf of the Mayor, as well as the individual artists, creatives, and innovators of Columbus. Very exciting times!”
More information can be found online at www.columbusideafoundry.com.
Photo by Adam Slane Photography.