Economic Development Administrator Committed to Strong Business in Westerville

One word to describes Westerville’s Economic Development Administrator, Jason Bechtold: “committed.”

He grew up 122 miles northeast of Westerville in a Cleveland suburb, and remains to this day – in his words – a long-suffering Cleveland sports fan. With the same commitment it takes to await a championship for his Cleveland teams, Jason pursues an ambitious set of goals and a clear vision for Westerville’s business development.

Where are you from and how did you get to Westerville?

I grew up in Lakewood, Ohio. I had done my undergraduate work in political science, so I started looking at opportunities to go back to school. I went to The Ohio State University for a dual master’s degree in city and regional planning and public administration. Once I found my way to central Ohio, I never went back. I knew Westerville as a top-tier community, and I wanted to be part of that success as well as find the right place to raise a family.

How did you get started in economic development?

I started with an internship in Gahanna, training with zoning and planning processes and getting my first taste of the purpose of economic development. From there, I went to work in Delaware, where my position was a cross-section of community development, planning and economic development. I think you have to have a commitment, desire and understanding to attract investment, attract business and help create jobs. For me, this was the right profession because every day in a successful, thriving business community is different, and each brings unique challenges and opportunities.

After working in other nearby communities, what in your opinion is different in Westerville?

There’s a great spirit of partnership in Westerville; it’s not one entity, but several collectively working together to meet the challenges of today. It’s also a testament to the major employers we have here. They are investing in Westerville because they can see we’re inclusive in our approach to our community. That is one of the things that drives me, especially when I have a chance to talk to a new business or a developer. They know right away it’s not just an investment in a piece of ground, but an investment in the community.

Westerville also has a unique appreciation of heritage, and the Uptown district showcases that. From Prohibition to the Underground Railroad, there is rich history here we connect to as part of our local culture. But it’s really the people within the organization as well as outside. People here are interested in bettering this community. They care deeply and

The ultimate goal is to further develop the economic base of the community, and I do that by packaging and balancing all our amenities. It’s having a strong public safety program, reliable utilities, a nationally recognized parks system, an efficient permitting process and programs like the nation’s first municipal data center. It’s about helping to create jobs and investment, whether reinvestment projects like those in Uptown or along South State Street or new investment, like that in Westar along Polaris Parkway.

What is the Medical Mile?

The Medical Mile is the stretch of the Cleveland Avenue corridor that is anchored by Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Hospital, OhioHealth’s Westerville Medical Campus and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. It is the realization of very intentional efforts by the City to be a regional destination for access to health care.

When the city made the investment to attract St. Ann’s hospital more than 30 years ago as the first suburban hospital in central Ohio, it established Westerville as a place to access first-class health care options. We attracted other medical facilities over time, including Cardinal Orthopaedics, the Center for Surgical Dermatology and the corporate headquarters of Central Ohio Primary Care. The Westerville Community Center augments this mile so that it is also wellness-oriented. With proximity to I-71 and I-270, most of the population in central Ohio is within or under a 30-minute drive to these services.

Tell us about the WeConnect data center in Westerville.

I call this a game-changer in the economic development world. This is the next critical step to supplying the infrastructure needed to thrive in our community. Historically, cities needed to provide paved roads to get the workforce to work, which we do well; provide reliable, affordable electricity to keep the lights on, which we do well; or deliver safe, clean drinking water, which, again, we do well.

The data center is an infrastructure need of the modern society. In the current state of a global economy, businesses need access to high-speed Internet and data security. These are the new critical pieces of doing business. So the City built the fiber infrastructure and connected it to the data center so carriers can come in and offer choice to our business community. Prior to this, it was an expensive proposition for a business – at any size – to build in these services and protect their expensive and precious data.

What’s next for the Uptown district?

Uptown is just a great, vibrant area. We actually have limited vacancies in Uptown, and when there is a vacancy, there are groups waiting to come in. We’re kicking off an Uptown planning process that is going to seek a lot of input from residents and businesses. It will look at parking and way-finding signage, as well as ideas and opinions on how to improve and take Uptown to the next level.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I love basketball and golf and, yes, I’m still heartbroken about Lebron James. My wife, Jennifer, works at Otterbein University, and she and I are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our little girl, our first child, around Christmastime.

Buy Now, Save More for 2013 Highlands Park Aquatic Center Season

Last year, the “Buy Now Save More” program was a great success. Plan ahead again this year and save 10 percent to get in on the fun at the Highlands Park Aquatic Center summer season.

From now until Dec. 31, season passes for 2013 are available at the discounted rate. Ultimate Passholders at the Westerville Community Center receive an additional 10 percent discount. Passes may be purchased at the Westerville Community Center (350 N. Cleveland Ave.).

Holiday Tree Disposal Information

Holiday trees can be disposed of as part of the normal yard waste collection (Monday). In order for holiday trees to be collected, they need to be placed at the curb with other yard waste. All decorations, lights, etc., must be removed from the tree, and the tree cannot be placed in any kind of bag. For more information, call 614-901-6740.