Twenty-five years, 30,000 jobs, $2.6 billion in investment, 220 successful start-up firms. That's the
record of the Hamilton County Development Co., which marks its 25th anniversary this week. The not-for-profit organization started with one employee and a board of directors and is now a full-service economic development agency charged with saving and creating jobs, expanding business and facilitating job growth.
Its small-business lending program has approved and administered more than 1,000 loans to small businesses, investing more than $500 million in projects that have generated more than 8,000 jobs. Its economic development office has worked with communities and business districts in programs that have resulted in investments of $2.6 billion and the retention or creation of more than 20,000 jobs. And its small-business incubator has nurtured more than 220 businesses far enough to complete the multi-year incubation program and graduate into the community.
"These results did not occur in a vacuum, nor by HCDC alone, but through active collaboration with organizations and individuals in the public and private sectors," says HCDC President David Main. The organization's celebration will be highlighted by a keynote address Thursday by Ohio's top
economic development official, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher.
Writer: David Holthaus
Source: David Main, Hamilton County Development Co.
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