Latest news with #NickBankston
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Columbus approves $23M for improving cybersecurity infrastructure
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Columbus City Council has approved $23 million to strengthen the city's cybersecurity infrastructure. This comes just days before the one year anniversary of the city being hit with a massive ransomware attack. NBC4 Investigates uncovered that half a million people's private information, including the identities of undercover officers and crime victims, was stolen and leaked on the dark web. Now, millions of dollars will be invested in a new system. Council approved $23 million for what is called a 'zero-trust network'. This model is 'never trust, always verify.' The city is hoping that implementing the zero-trust network will strengthen it's IT infrastructure against future attacks. Traditional networks assume everything inside an organization's network can be trusted. Now, this security mindset assumes that there are threats both inside and outside of a network and makes it so that only necessary users are authorized. Once implemented, only those with express permission and who go through strict verification can access the city's network. A spokesperson for Mayor Andrew Ginther sent a statement saying: 'Federal, state, and local governmental entities, including the City of Columbus, face persistent and sophisticated cybersecurity threats. These threats are constantly evolving and increasing in sophistication. Cybersecurity experts and researchers have developed the Zero Trust Network framework to adapt to these threats. 'Unlike traditional security frameworks that assume everything inside an organization's network is trustworthy, a Zero Trust Network assumes that threats can exist both inside and outside the network. Therefore, among other things, a Zero Trust Network requires strict verification for every user and device attempting to access resources within a network, regardless of their location. It also includes segmenting an organization's network into smaller, isolated zones or microsegments. These microsegments are typically aligned with organizational units such as departments or workgroups, are intended to limit unnecessary network traffic between segments, and are designed to prevent unauthorized movement between segments. 'Zero Trust is not a product, but a shift in security mindset, architecture, and operational approach. The City of Columbus is seeking to commence its Zero Trust Network project later this year and anticipates that it will take at least two years to implement with an estimated investment of $23 million.' Councilmember Nick Bankston also sent a statement saying: 'In today's world, cybersecurity is public safety. This $23 million investment in a Zero Trust Network is not just about protecting servers — it's about protecting the people of Columbus. By modernizing our infrastructure and adopting industry best practices, we are taking responsible, proactive steps to ensure that residents can trust their government to keep their information safe and services running securely. Council remains committed to sharing information about last year's cyberattack when it is appropriate to do so. However, what we can say is this: we're taking action to make sure our systems — and our residents — are protected against the evolving threat landscape going forward.' Hardware will need to be replaced across all city buildings and data centers. The city will start implementing the framework in its core network and largest facilities and expand over the next two years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Columbus approves small-business grant program
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Columbus City Council approved a grant program that primarily focuses on women-owned businesses and women entrepreneurs. Columbus Councilmember Nick Bankston said small businesses are the backbone of the community, which is why it's important the city gives small business owners the resources they need to succeed. Columbus City Schools reverting to birth names catches students, teachers off guard On the last day of Women's History Month, Columbus City Council approved the Small Business Boost Grant program. 'It really focuses on making sure those individual women boost their individual credit scores to be able to provide them the opportunity to be ready for funding when it comes to their individual businesses,' Bankston said. The program will provide the funds, training and technical support to the city's local financial empowerment center to create one-on-one free financial counseling. 'We look forward to seeing women in Columbus realize their dream of entrepreneurship and become a part of a growing local economy known for opportunity and innovation,' Columbus Department of Development Assistant Director Hannah Reed said. 60-ton crane stolen from south Columbus construction site According to some council members, women-owned businesses make up approximately 22% of all small businesses in the city, representing $14.1 million in total revenue and employing more than 28,000 community members. 'Nationally, women-owned businesses generate $2.7 trillion — $2.7 trillion, that's with a 'T' — in revenue, yet less than 2% of venture capital funding is allocated towards women-owned startups,' Columbus City Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla said. 'We know that when we invest in women, we're investing in our families, we're investing in our communities, but most importantly, we continue to make sure that when women succeed, Columbus succeeds,' Bankston said. The grant is a private grant from the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund in an amount up to $90,000. Bankston said the program is a way for the city to show its commitment to women-owned businesses. Harsher penalties for those caught driving under the influence to take effect in Ohio 'Oftentimes, businesses don't close their doors because they have a bad product or because there's something wrong with the business per se, but it's because they don't have those tools and that access to capital to make sure that they're able to be sustainable,' he said. Bankston said the funding will start to roll out as soon as contracts go into effect. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Columbus to spend $20 million on city arts scene
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Columbus City Council has approved more than $20 million to support the arts in the city. However, it's not money that comes from the general fund; instead, it comes from tourists and residents. You may be used to dealing with pesky ticket fees and probably don't want to see any extra. However, here in Columbus, the local hotel and event tax make it so the arts here in the city can thrive. Cocaine in Doritos box found near child at west Columbus apartment, deputies say 'We funded 1,500 artists last year and 108 arts organizations; we'll do the same or more this year,' Greater Columbus Arts Council President and CEO Tom Katzenmeyer said. When a customer buys a ticket or a hotel room in the city, there's a small local tax. That money goes into a pot that is then given to the Greater Columbus Arts Council to invest in Columbus arts. 'The ticket fee was actually put in place right before the pandemic and so many of us were cringing of will this come back? Will this be an industry that is viable? And the answer is absolutely yes,' Columbus City Councilmember Nick Bankston said. 'These are numbers that are surpassing what we saw in 2019 and pre-pandemic.' In 2024 $24.6 million was raised from the hotel and cultural fee and is now going to the Greater Columbus Arts Council for them to invest in the city. 'It really shows, again, that our economy is booming and back, but more importantly, that the arts are back in Columbus and that folks are willing to spend that money,' Bankston said. One measure of property tax relief works its way through Ohio Statehouse This money makes pay-what-you-can admission, artist grants, murals and much more possible. 'I've been in this job for 12 years,' Katzenmeyer said. 'When I started, we were just receiving the bed tax. We then worked with city council to start a new fee, the ticket fee, and we now also get money from the Franklin County Commissioners. So it adds up to about $25 to $30 million depending on where those things land.' Columbus residents and visitors can see the money at work, for example, with the mural assistance program. It launched in 2022 and has funded 81 new murals across the city. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
