Recap: 2024 Investor Breakfast
Last month, GROW Licking County hosted our annual Investor Breakfast to provide an update on the organization’s current goals and initiatives. Topics included business retention and expansion, business attraction, marketing, workforce development, and infrastructure.
Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E)
GROW staff regularly meets with local economic-based companies through our business retention and expansion program (BR&E). Some common themes from the 2024 BR&E visits included employees’ transit and housing needs, as well as childcare availability and affordability. Through proactive support, such as addressing workforce challenges and providing resources for expansion, GROW aims to create a stable and thriving local economy. This approach not only secures existing jobs, but also encourages the creation of new ones.
Business Attraction
This year, we have seen project leads from emerging and growing industries such as food manufacturing, semiconductor, renewable energy, data centers, automotive and EV battery. GROW Licking County continues to focus heavily on manufacturing and its sub-industries. Before responding to project leads, GROW staff communicates with eligible municipalities to decide if the project is the right fit for their community.
Marketing
Over the past year, we have increased our marketing focus on digital media advertising. We found that digital ads were much more cost-effective than traditional print ads. They also gave us greater flexibility with the target audience and access to analytics which help us plan for future campaigns. We plan to continue to grow the organization’s digital presence in 2025 through continued digital advertising and website improvements.
Workforce Development
The cost or lack of access to childcare has caused some parents to either leave or consider leaving the workforce. Our staff conducted a survey to gather insights into the current childcare environment in Licking County.
Infrastructure
Our Infrastructure Committee continues to collaborate to find creative solutions to our county’s growing infrastructure needs as we prepare for community growth. This year, GROW Licking County co-hosted with Licking County Area Transportation Study (LCATS) the 2nd Annual Licking County Infrastructure Luncheon. The event featured an ODOT super loads presentation and a panel discussion of regional infrastructure and planning experts. Jim Gates, ODOT Deputy Director of Planning, was the event’s keynote speaker.
