New businesses to open in Carlisle; city continues economic development push

Work continues at the new Casey's General Store at 767 Central Ave. in Carlisle. The new 3,200 square-foot store will feature various offerings such as prepared food like handmade pizza, along with convenience staples from beverages to snacks, and fuel, officials have said. ED RICHTER/STAFF

Work continues at the new Casey's General Store at 767 Central Ave. in Carlisle. The new 3,200 square-foot store will feature various offerings such as prepared food like handmade pizza, along with convenience staples from beverages to snacks, and fuel, officials have said. ED RICHTER/STAFF

Carlisle is experiencing a minor economic development boom and hopes to build an even more successful 2024.

Alaina Geres, Carlisle’s community development director, said the city has not seen this amount of development in its history. Geres said there were 238 building permits issued in 2023 that represented more than $20 million in private investment in the city of 5,500 residents.

Among the major developments that will open this spring include the $6 million, 14,000 square-foot Joint Emergency Medical Services/Carlisle Fire Department facility at 495 Central Ave.; and a $600,000, 3,200 square-foot Casey’s General Store at 767 Central Ave.

This is a photo of the nearly completed headquarters for the Joint Emergency Medical Services District and Carlisle Fire Department on Central Avenue in Carlisle.  ED RICHTER/STAFF

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A $600,000 Dollar Tree store is already under construction at the corner of 837 Central Ave. and Sunset Drive, according to Geres. The 10,000 square-foot store is expected to open this summer, according to city records.

The Carlisle Planning Commission has already approved other projects that have not broken ground yet, including a gas station/convenience store to be located at 425 Central Ave. at Osprey Lane at the Carlisle Business Park. The $1.3 million project is being built by Carra Builders Commercial Construction.

Another large project which is going through the early phases of the planning process would be for a truck repair/banquet facility that is being planned for 540 Central Ave.

The Carlisle Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday in the city building for conditional use applications for the project at 540 Central Ave. The commission will also hold a public hearing on another project to add a drive-thru at the existing Carlisle Fuel Mart at 650 Central Ave.

As part of that $20 million in private investment, there were 33 new homes constructed with a valuation of $6.7 million.

Here is the location of a new 10,000 square-foot Dollar Tree store on Central Avenue at Sunset Drive. The city of Carlisle is experiencing some economic growth that hasn't been seen in its history. New construction of residences, businesses and a new fire/EMS station is helping with Carlisle's growth. CONTRIBUTED/CITY OF CARLISLE

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“Carlisle is seeing rapid growth because of our central proximity to Dayton and Cincinnati and our business-friendly administration and city council,” Geres said. “We offer easy access to I-75, with it being only minutes away from the Franklin exit, and we also offer the small, quaint, close-knit community that families are seeking when they look to settle down and start a family. There are many more available lots on Central Avenue for development, so I don’t see this boom slowing down any in the near future.”

“We sure had a lot of growth this year,” said Mayor Randy Winkler. “I’m hopeful it will continue.”

Winkler is hoping that big companies such as Dollar Tree and Casey’s coming to Carlisle might attract other national companies to locate in the city. He said he’d like to see a fast-food restaurant come to Carlisle.

When asked to describe the city’s growth in the past year in one word, Winkler said “exciting” and added that the new additions will be beneficial to the city and its residents.

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