Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Consultants present Clermont County economic development strategy prioritizing site readiness and workforce
Summary
Consultants from Envision LLC presented a draft economic development strategic plan May 13 emphasizing site readiness along SR-32, workforce training, development finance tools and target-industry recruitment; the plan will return for board approval in September after a June–September evaluation phase.
Amos Lisnansky, principal and project manager with the consulting team, presented a draft economic development strategic plan to the Clermont County Board of Commissioners on May 13, outlining priorities for site readiness, workforce development and targeted industry attraction.
The consultants framed a multi-phase effort: a completed background and analysis phase, a near-complete programming and evaluation phase, and a June–September implementation framework that will define roles, performance metrics and an action plan. "We are right on schedule," Lisnansky said, urging the board to provide feedback so the steering committee can reconvene this summer and the full draft can be presented to the board in September for approval.
Consultants identified the SR-32 corridor, I‑275 interchanges (including Eastgate Mall and Park 50), mixed‑use nodes in Milford, and longer‑term opportunities such as Ohio River power‑plant adaptive reuse as priority sites for investment and infrastructure. Target industries named for attraction and retention included life sciences, aerospace and aviation, food and beverage manufacturing, advanced chemicals and materials, healthcare and defense contractors. The plan recommends continued use of development finance tools (tax increment financing, joint economic development districts, and community improvement corporation activity) and greater coordination between county departments to speed approvals.
Chris McClintic, the county’s community economic development director, said the plan builds on local strengths and cited a near-term business milestone: a local Nestle Purina facility is expected to begin full production Aug. 31, with the company now projecting roughly 500 jobs when fully operational. McClintic said the department sought a firm experienced in the county and expects the plan to help staff make clear return‑on‑investment arguments when incentives are proposed.
Workforce strategies emphasize aligning education and training partners with employer needs through stackable credentials, apprenticeships and reskilling programs, and the plan highlights wraparound services such as transit and child care as critical to supporting labor participation.
Next steps, Lisnansky said, include incorporating commissioner feedback into the draft outline, finishing remaining stakeholder interviews and reconvening the steering committee for a late‑summer review prior to the September presentation to the board.
The board did not take formal action on the plan at the May 13 meeting; consultants will return with a full draft and proposed performance metrics in September.
