Civil Municipal Magazine Aug 2023

154 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 8 The City is taking a proactive approach to embrace the economy going forward by leveraging its location, accessibility, and available sites and buildings throughout the city, along its I-75 corridor, for mixed- use or light industrial development. A desirable location positioned equidistant between Cincinnati and Dayton, the potential is there to bring in larger employers to its industrial corridor, and potentially, smaller businesses could pop up accordingly to support their needs as well as the needs of their employees. As part of Middletown’s overall business incentive strategy, the City has introduced attractive tax incentives that are both flexible for potential commercial and industrial interests and help to expedite the new business attraction approach offered by the City. Tax incentives include tax abatements, tax credits, various grants, low-interest loan options, and access to workforce development streams to help with connecting employers with a well-prepared employee base. With these well-constructed financial incentives, the city has done its due diligence concerning adhering to strict compliance and regulatory standards. The City’s focus has not only been on drawing in new business in the retail and industrial area, but it has also offered help to local businesses and residents through a variety of city, state, and federal incentive programs. Working together for Middletown’s prospects Working in partnership, Middletown has been able to help its valued local smaller- scale businesses stay afloat by allocating federal ARPA grant monies and Community Reinvestment Area tax abatements. The city is also administering Ohio Industry Sector Partnership Grants in the realm of workforce development as well as working in partnership with JobsOhio, a statewide initiative established in 2011 to boost innovation, drive job creation, and increase capital investment in Ohio. As part of its robust business and workforce development plan, Middletown also works with neighboring counties in the southwest region of the state as a member of the area’s BusinessFirst! Program. Middletown has recognized the need to work collaboratively with different state, local, private, and federal partners to achieve the goal of providing its residents with the best possible employment opportunities, business opportunities, and overall community needs. Beyond its robust partnership in business and workforce development, the City has also made a concerted effort to partner with other entities that serve as major economic drivers for the city and its residents, namely the Middletown Port Authority and of particular focus for the city, the Middletown Airport Opportunity Zone.