Economic Development Strategy (2023-2028)

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City Council Strategic Goal – Thriving Business Climate

Westerville City Council adopted an operational strategy in 2022, with one of the four priority Strategic Outcomes being a Thriving Business Climate.

The top priority action item under this strategic outcome was to hire a qualified consultant team to lead the update to the City of Westerville's Economic Development Strategy. The City hired Boyette Strategic Advisors in early 2023 to complete the update by the end of the year. Boyette had also led the update the to City's previous economic development strategy in 2014.

The purpose of the Strategy is to focus on programs, initiatives, and actions that will result in job creation and investment, the combination of which will expand the tax base for the City and enable the City to continue providing the high level of public services for which Westerville is known.

The Strategy will also ensure resilience, following the COVID-19 pandemic, turmoil in the commercial real estate market from rising costs and interest rates, and other factors that are driving changes to site selection and corporate location decisions.

This strategy is intended to have 3-5 year time horizon, at which point the City should evaluate current economic conditions and determine whether an updated strategy is appropriate.

The process has informed the strategies and action items that are designed to meet the four identified strategic goals: Retain, Develop, Support, Market.

Retain

Develop

1. Redevelop and reposition aging commercial real estate to maximize Westerville’s competitive product availability.

2. Invest in infrastructure developments that will support future economic development efforts.

3. Continue to enhance the economic vitality of Uptown to support City Council’s goal of an Authentic and Alive Uptown Westerville.

4. Study economic development tools that will enable Westerville’s boundaries to grow and result in expanded land available for development.

Support

1. Convene employers, education/training partners, and others in the workforce ecosystem to address ongoing workforce needs and skills gap.

2. Encourage the growth of the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

3. Support equitable economic development as part of growth and redevelopment in key strategic areas.

4. Explore the opportunities for continued growth in the Medical Mile.

5. Leverage the Westerville Industry and Commerce Corporation (WICC) as a strategic conduit for economic development programs and opportunities.

6. Continue to understand the needs of Westerville businesses and potential prospects as they relate to sustainability.

7. Collaborate with regional partners on economic development efforts.

Market

1. Develop key messages and a marketing strategy to support the expansion of Westerville’s target industries.

2. Leverage Westerville’s “Smart City” initiatives to support the economic development strategy.

3. Create a branding initiative for the “Medical Mile.”

4. Promote the attributes of Westerville City Schools.

5. Cultivate community economic development champions through enhanced education.

For this Advance Westerville strategy, target sectors are aligned with a "district" approach, focusing opportunities for target sectors in specific geographic areas of the City of Westerville because they are poised to offer the right mix of real estate, programs, and other amenities necessary to foster growth.

Targets AW

Advance Westerville Strategy

Advance Westerville - Findings and Background Data

Contact:

Rachel Ray
Economic Development Director
Rachel.Ray@Westerville.org

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Westerville, OH (Economic Development)