Garfield Heights, Ohio

45 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 12 will help us get better use out of that land.” Ohio as a whole is increasingly being looked at as a future home for manufacturers, given the success of Intel’s extended footprint in the Columbus metro area. The state is providing many options for tax abatements and incentives and the opportunities for Garfield Heights are significant. Throughout the city, space is available for manufacturing and distributors, and it is well-positioned to handle the housing demand for any new employees. It is an interesting market to attract manufacturers because in some sectors there has been a renewed industry for employees in that work, Burke says. Garfield Heights leadership works with Ohio Means Jobs to recruit potential employers. Some who have remained in the workforce may be more likely to make a change following the COVID-19 pandemic, which can lead to new career opportunities. While employment growth in the healthcare sector remains strong, some have chosen to leave that field and are looking at manufacturing or other engineering roles as an alternative. “We have some very attractive empty lots to market in really great spaces,” Burke says. He continues that “our convenient location to Cleveland, the lake, and highways to other communities is extremely appealing. Another appealing feature for employers and new residents is the availability of high-speed broadband services given the upgraded fiber optics that have been installed in areas around the city since 2020. The next goal, says Burke, is to find ways to ensure these broadband services are more affordable for residents. “We saw during the pandemic how critical it is for all of our citizens to be connected,” he adds. While Garfield Heights might not currently have a traditional downtown area, that may change in the years ahead. Burke says that the city is looking at developing the intersection around Turney Road and Garfield Boulevard as a zoned location for retail and a planned downtown area. More road