Middletown, once a booming factory town, has faced challenges through the loss of manufacturing jobs, the Great Recession and, of course, COVID-19. However, the city is charting a new path forward with a vibrant downtown area, growth-minded city leadership, and an array of new businesses and events to bring people back to the Middletown region. A community’s quality of life is measured by more than jobs.

The seven-part Partner City: Middletown series profiles people and organizations improving the city’s 51,000-plus residents’ positioning for growth in the city along with the rapidly expanding Butler and Warren counties.