Business View Civil & Municipal - May 2023

19 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5 undertaking several initiatives to train young people and retain them within the county. One such initiative is the development of a Makerspace in Lima, which will provide essential training in collaboration with local academic institutions like Apollo and Rhodes State. This will aid in the engagement and training of local residents for future employment. Another key initiative is MakerFest, an event to engage high school students with local businesses. Stratton explains, “MakerFest will bring in more than 1,500 high school students to meet many of the regional businesses for an interactive, engaging event for high school students.” Decker expands on the revamped MakerFest, which now focuses on younger high school students to encourage early career exploration. Decker says, “We’re trying to get younger kids to start thinking about careers, not necessarily a specific employer, and catch that interest in them in time to adapt their high school scheduling to those classes.” This shift aims to help students tailor their academic paths to suit their career interests, whether in manufacturing or healthcare, and increase their chances of being hired by local businesses upon graduation. officials have built relationships at various levels, from the state level with JobsOhio and the Ohio Department of Development to the regional level with the Regional Growth Partnership. Additionally, relationships have been strengthened at the local level, with city, county, and township officials, regional planning, and the engineer’s office,” he adds. In addition to retaining local businesses, Stratton and the Commissioners are also looking to bring in more small entrepreneurial ventures, such as mom-and-pop shops, boutiques, and restaurants to further diversify and strengthen Allen County’s economy. By fostering a supportive environment and prioritizing collaboration, Allen County aims to create a thriving business landscape that benefits existing and new businesses and makes for a great place for residents to work, live and play. Like other regions across the country, Stratton acknowledges that workforce development is a significant challenge in Allen County. The county is addressing this issue by ALLEN COUNTY