Civil Municipal Magazine Aug 2023

144 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 8 may be exponentially smaller, but it, too, has some attractive jobs, including remote-based possibilities, distribution, and manufacturing. “People can come here and get a bigger, better house for less money than you would in a big city, with an income tax of only 1.5 percent,” said Closser. “They pay low taxes and can work from their own home. We are starting to see that a lot more.” He said Stanley Electric is the city’s biggest employer. London is home to the American corporate offices of this Japanese-owned manufacturer of Honda headlights and tail lights. The local hospital, Madison Health, is affiliated with Ohio State University. “They did a $20 million expansion in 2017,” Closser said of the hospital. “And they’re looking to do another expansion. That’s good for the community because they now have more room for specialists and family-practice doctors. They’re adding all these doctors and nurses.” He also praised London’s downtown, with its retail, small businesses, and shops. Closser said the City of London works closely with the Cultivate London Business Center, a resource offering mentorial advice and helping people create their small businesses. The Madison County Chamber of Commerce also helps small, local businesses. It gives them helpful resources and moves them in the right direction, as Closser revealed. “We made the whole city of London a CRA or a Community Reinvestment Area,” he continued. According to OSU, a CRA is an economic development tool, administered by municipal and county governments and provides real property tax exemptions for property owners who renovate existing or construct new buildings. “We thought that would help attract people to come here,” said Closser. “We’ve done a couple of deals here lately with some historic buildings