RELATED: Butler County Commission candidates debate jobs, business growth
“Ross is going to have the next burst in development because of its location next to (Ohio) 27,” Carpenter said, adding that the township will “grow very quickly.”
Development in Butler County will require assistance with tax incentives and taxing programs, such as a joint economic development district — or JEDD — that allows townships and cities to partner in taxing developments in a township, she said.
“As we move forward in our progress in Butler County and build bridges and get better infrastructure on to the western part of the county, I think(JEDDs) will be used intelligently by the cities and townships in collecting tax so they can support the infrastructure,” Carpenter said. “Hopefully the western side of the county will explode (in development), and move into the direction they choose to go in.”
Wong said JEDDs could help Middletown — which he said is “neglected” — and give that city incentives for growth.
“Right now Middletown is like a factory town,” he said. “They need to bring in some high-paying jobs and government. The commissioners can help them set up special districts just for that.”
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West Chester Twp. used a JEDD with Fairfield and Springdale to bring GE Aviation to the Centre Pointe Office Park in 2012.
Wong said that project brought in more than $1 million annually to the township, which helped “tremendously” in adding infrastructure to the Streets of West Chester.
He also noted “a lack of a countywide development plan,” saying the board just wants to pay down debt.
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