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Fast Track to Prosperity
Route 33 Growth Alliance unites communities to market the region
Canal Pointe Industry and Commerce Park has 114 acres available for business and industrial development.Economic strength is building in Fairfield County, thanks to the Route 33 Growth Alliance, an arm of the Lancaster-Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce.
The group – a partnership of local governments, businesses and other stakeholders – focuses on the Route 33 corridor, which runs southeast of Columbus. The busy U.S. highway is the portal to the southern Ohio labor market.
The alliance, originally a separate organization, was born in response to transportation concerns regarding the Route 33 bypass and the proposed location of interchanges.
“The Route 33 Alliance started out as an advocacy group,” says Mike Arcari, economic development consultant.
Clearly, interchanges provide economic benefits to the communities that receive them, he notes. With a unified voice, the alliance presented its concerns to the Ohio Department of Transportation. Once ODOT completed its plans, the alliance decided to broaden its focus.
“We want the region to grow,” says R. Michael Pettit, economic development director for the city of Lancaster and a past president of the alliance.
The alliance hired an economic development consulting firm to assess the corridor. The results will help guide a master plan for the region. Although the communities are marketed under one umbrella, the efforts will also promote each community’s distinctive characteristics, as well as detail its strengths for certain businesses.
“Lancaster might be good for heavy industry, and Canal Winchester might be good for light industry and commercial space,” Arcari says. The city of Pickerington can attract professional office and retail space.
Yet just because a company lands in Canal Winchester doesn’t mean it won’t benefit neighboring communities.
“As the economic development director of Lancaster, it is OK with me if a business lands in Canal Winchester – it sure beats landing in Delaware.
I’ll get a benefit from that company,” Pettit says.
Indeed, surrounding towns can attract shoppers, diners – even residents. And if companies looking to relocate can realize the value of the entire region, not just one town, they might be more likely to put down roots here.
“They don’t see us as fighting over the territory, but as a group coming together,” Pettit says.
Today, the alliance includes the villages of Groveport and Canal Winchester, the townships of Madison and Violet, the cities of Pickerington and Lancaster, and Fairfield County.
In 2006, the group decided to partner with the Lancaster-Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce and chambers throughout the county.
Lancaster Chamber President Chris Agnitsch is thrilled that the communities are working together.
“We can provide the administrative support and guidance from our member businesses,” he says.
The alliance is working on a five-year marketing and fundraising strategy.
The concept of regional marketing is new to the area, but it is one that communities must adopt to thrive.
“To be competitive in a global marketplace, you must work together,” Arcari says. “You have a much better chance of being successful than if you go it alone.”
Story by Pam George
Photo by Brian McCord
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