Economic Development
The Goal:
Improve cooperation and coordination on economic development efforts and opportunities equitably throughout the region and provide incentives for such cooperation to make our region the location of choice for a wide range of businesses and to build the regional tax base.
Opportunity Areas
Grow, Develop & Retain Key Workforce Talent
Migration patterns have a correlative relationship to the quality and type of workers available. Talent is highly mobile and moves toward places with the most to offer in terms of opportunities and quality of life.
Pursue an Economic Development Strategy That Carries Our Region Forward
In addition to regional economic development organizations, local government, municipal and county economic development departments and organizations exist to directly serve several of the region’s communities.
Streamline Business Friendly Atmosphere
Local communities can play a critical role in reducing soft costs of development by streamlining and standardizing the permitting process and by providing accessible information to the public.
Elevate Awareness of Community Assets
Community character is a key factor in keeping local talent and attracting new talent to the region. The Cincinnati Region boasts a variety of nationally recognized neighborhoods, vibrant cultural and sports events, and unique restaurants.
Invest in Infrastructure Supportive of Future Economic Growth
Beginning in 2016, OKI has included economic vitality as a criterion in the federal transportation funding prioritization process scoring. The criterion provides proposed projects up to 10 points (out of 110) in the process based on the number of employees working within the vicinity of the proposed project, number of jobs created if a project is serving new or expanding employers, or the amount of new private investment being made as a result of the new transportation project.