By Matt Gilroy, FHCED Director of Strategic Initiatives
Over the past 24 months, Findlay Hancock County Economic Development, together with partners in Allen, Hardin, Putnam, and Van Wert counties, developed and submitted a Five‑County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) to the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). The CEDS establishes a regional plan for economic and infrastructure development and outlines priorities to pursue EDA support for key investments.
Several hundred residents and stakeholders participated in the process. The public had multiple opportunities to provide input through public sessions and comment periods, and community, business, education, public‑sector, and nonprofit leaders collaborated to assess the region’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
We are now entering the five‑year implementation phase. The five counties will work to carry out the CEDS strategies and track progress using the metrics identified in the plan. Some objectives will require regional collaboration, while others will be advanced at the county or community level.
For Hancock County specifically, Findlay Hancock County Economic Development aims to work with the EDA to support flood mitigation projects, advance transportation improvements, and expand quality public utilities—including broadband, electric, and natural gas infrastructure—for residents and businesses.
The goal of the Five‑County Northwest Ohio CEDS is to deliver assets and strategies that improve residents’ quality of life, stimulate economic growth, and strengthen the regional business environment. This planning document makes each county in our region eligible for federal grant funding for which we have not been eligible in the past. The EDA provides grant opportunities for communities and counties for infrastructure improvements that enhance our ability to retain and attract businesses that provide employment opportunities and tax revenue that benefits our communities and our residents. See the final report here.
