Economic Development Plan Set to “Advance Westerville”
If a “roadmap” is meant to provide a course or route for strategic development, the newly adopted Westerville economic development plan can be summarized with four key actions: Retain, Develop, Support and Market. The new roadmap, titled “Advance Westerville,” is the first comprehensive refresh of the economic development plan in nine years. It was presented to Westerville City Council during a work session on September 13; aligning with one of Council’s top priorities of maintaining a “Thriving Business Climate.” “The purpose of an economic development plan is to focus on creating jobs,” said Rachel Ray, economic development director. “Income tax from job creation funds the services we provide and inspires public and private investment in our community. But we also want to be resilient. There have been a lot of changes in the economy—nationally, at the state and locally—so we want to make sure we have the right foundation in place to weather whatever is on the horizon, be it weathering storms or harnessing opportunities.”
Advance Westerville Roadmap (At-A-Glance)
RETAIN Launch a proactive ex isting industry program that best antic ipates what companies here today need to thrive in the future.
Redevelop and reposition aging e commercial real estate to maximiz t Westerville’s competitive produc availability.
Continue to leverage Otterbein University, a member of the Westerville Partnership , as a key competitive advanta ge for Westerville.
ts Invest in infrastructure developmen that will support future economic development efforts.
Maximize Westerville’s existing assets to support emplo yer needs.
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DEVELOP
vitality Continue to enhance the economic l of goa of Uptown to support City Council’s ille. terv an Authentic and Alive Uptown Wes s that Study economic development tool will enable Westerville’s boundaries to grow and result in expanded land available for development.
