Economic Development
A City
Middletown is in the midst of a series of projects that are meant to update and reinvigorate the city.
REINVENTION Middletown setting itself up for success with new developments across the city BY BILL FERGUSON JR.
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f the Destination Middletown Comprehensive Plan is any indication, the city is seeking to transform itself economically in the near future. The plan, as of press time, was still in the draft-and-review process before City Council and is an update to the 2005 Master Plan. With community input and much work by city officials and stakeholders in the past few years, the plan is expected to be the guiding document for the community’s vision and goals for development in the next 10 years. The city identified five key areas, all of which are key to attracting companies, jobs and residents to fill those jobs: Resilient Neighborhoods, Thriving Economy, Strong Infrastructure, Healthy and Safe Living and Pride in Community. 6
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“There are so many unmatched opportunities here,” Economic Development Director Chris Xeil Lyons says. “Middletown is vast and there are so many things happening here. It has a lot of history. It’s a very diverse community.” Over the last several years, the economic development department has updated its website—choosemiddletownoh.org—and social-media channels to better communicate with the area’s business owners and beyond. In 2021, the department also created the city’s Small Business Alliance, which provides resources, training and networking opportunities for businesses of 35 or fewer employees. That includes sending text messages to businesses to keep them in the loop on city dealings, road closures, events, loan/ grant opportunities and so on.
