I am writing you from one the top .00012% best places for families to live in the United States. This is a big deal. West Chester Township was named by Fortune as the 13th best place in the NATION for families to live. A quick Google search reveals there are more than 108,000 cities and towns in our 50 states. It is amazing to live, work and play in one of the very best places in the nation. West Chester beat out 107,987 other U.S. municipalities. Good choice, Fortune. We here in West Chester already knew we had something special, but now we know we are really at the top!
West Chester Development has had a busy quarter with multiple ribbon cuttings and state grant award announcements for incoming businesses. We hosted a business appreciation breakfast in tandem with IKEA to celebrate their 15th anniversary in West Chester, and our own West Chester Township celebrated a 200th bicentennial birthday weekend full of fun.
There is always a lot going on in West Chester, so when I got a text from my Dad that “Taco Johns is on fire.” I just assumed that he really, really liked their tacos. I mean after all, we are the first location in the state of Ohio to get a Taco Johns. Little did I know that Taco Johns was actually, on fire. West Chester Fire Department was on the scene quickly, however, and Taco Johns is now back open after a brief closure. Now that is a truly hot opening.
The National Restaurant Association recently conducted a survey that showed 45% of Gen Z, 57% of Millennials, and 41% of Gen X said the availability of alcoholic beverages made them more likely to choose one restaurant over another. This is what led West Chester to create two additional Community Entertainment Districts. The State of Ohio has officially accepted these districts and West Chester has 53 D5J liquor licenses available within four Community Entertainment Districts. This goes a long way in attracting top dining and entertainment options for our residents and visitors to enjoy.
The SPARK Small Business Revitalization Grant recipients have been hard at work completing projects, including Seege Ross, owner of Raton Salon and Spa. “We are so grateful to be a part of this community that so evidently wants to empower small businesses like us who are up and coming and new to the area! Without the SPARK grant we would have been financially unable to provide our business with a large storefront sign by Cincinnati Dayton Rd, to help our new clients find our business since we are somewhat hard to see from the main road. Starting a small business during the thick of the pandemic in 2020 wasn’t something a lot of people had the ability to do. We gutted this little house, added more plumbing and electric to turn it into our dream salon and opened our doors in May of 2021. We are now a thriving business with 5 successful independent women working under our roof and could not be more excited! We look forward to all of the new business and amazing people in the city of West Chester who will hear about us now from having this store front sign that they can visibly see from the road while passing by our salon! Thank you SPARK! —— “the owners of RATON SALON + SPA
READ MORE: What's New in West Chester! (3Q-2023)
This quarter’s resource to know is: Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program
The program is offered at NO COST to selected business owners who receive a full scholarship funded by the Goldman Sachs Foundation. Once the 14 sessions are completed, entrepreneurs have a practical, immediately actionable written growth plan. And according to the Goldman Sachs Foundation, 67% of the program’s alumni reported increased revenues and 47% added new jobs within six months of graduating.
Cincinnati State Workforce Development Center is currently recruiting for the next cohort which will begin late January 2024 (click here for program schedule). The Workforce Development Center looks for applicants who are passionate about growing their business and creating jobs in their communities, and meet these criteria:
Owner or co-owner of a business
Business in operation for at least two years (by the time the cohort begins)
Business revenues $75,000 - $40 million
Minimum of 2 FTEs (Full Time Equivalent), including the owner
Click here to apply. Space is limited, so we suggest you complete the initial application as soon as possible. To learn more about the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, contact Sean GL Johnson at sean.johnson@cincinnatistate.edu or Elizabeth York at elizabeth.york@cincinnaistate.edu.
Lastly, a new restaurant opened in West Chester this quarter called French Toast Heaven. Call me crazy, but I would be happy to meet you there to discuss anything at any time. Drop me a line at kkanelopoulos@westchesteroh.org. I would love to hear from you. Happy summer West Chester, where families grow, businesses prosper, the French toast is heaven, and dreams come true. Katy K