Business View Magazine | November 2020

249 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 CENTERV I LLE , OHIO or to remodel your building,” says Compton. “It takes a lot of effort, plus you have to get approval for a historically significant building.” In response to these challenges the city developed the Uptown Action Plan. This revamped strategy, developed in 2019, emphasizes several areas of focus: improving walkability and reducing traffic congestion, improving parking, organizing new events, focusing on business development, and increasing greenspace. Establishing Uptown as a vibrant and walkable neighborhood is paramount. Centerville is exploring initiatives that include business development incentives, such as funding programs and forgivable loans, as well as façade improvement programs. This trend of balancing the new and old is a hallmark of Centerville’s community identity. One of the city’s more modern developments includes the installation of a fiberoptic network serving the IT needs of the larger community. The Miami Valley Communications Council (MVCC) has coordinated with the neighboring communities to put in the fiberoptic network – a ring of nineteen miles, providing high- speed access to all the communities. “We feel it’s a real plus for the entire community,” says Davis. “We recognize that when Kettering does well (Centerville’s neighbor to the north), then Centerville does well. It’s been a great opportunity to coordinate a great development tool for this area.” And there are plans to expand the network. Centerville and MVCC are working with the city of Trotwood, which is about seven miles further, and ideally, that fiberoptic ring will eventually extend all the way up to the city of Dayton Airport. The Mayor adds, “We are also working with other partners in the area, with Montgomery County and with Miami Township to the west of Centerville. I think the big win is not just in the technology but in demonstrating partnership among a number of political jurisdictions. I think, ultimately, it’s a win for our community as a whole.” The cost of the fiberoptic installation has been supplemented by reserving a conduit for private sector use. Mayor, Brooks Compton