The following article, "Keeping up with Katy K," was written before the passing of our tremendous friend and department leader, Aaron Wiegand. Aaron was an inspiration to us and, indeed, the heart of our department. To say he will be missed is a great understatement. I encourage you to read more about his impact on our community and his love for life here: https://www.westchesteroh.org/Home/Components/News/News/3917/16
I have been named interim department director and plan to continue Aaron's legacy of excellence as best I can, although I can never be him. Thanks for everything, Aaron. We are all better for knowing you. #ChiefStrong
New! New! New!
Happy New Year, West Chester! It's a new year with a new honor and a new easy-to-navigate zoning permit process. It always feels great to start fresh with a new year, but let's look back at the last quarter because some great things happened while you were eating fruitcake.
Ohio Business Magazine named West Chester "Best Community to do Business" in all of Ohio for the fourth year in a row! I don't know if anyone is keeping statistical records of this, but I feel confident that this has to be some sort of record. West Chester is humbled by this continued recognition, which brings us to our 2024 New Year's resolution- to persist with excellence and win a fifth straight title. Many thanks to our business community for voting us the best. We do not take the honor lightly.
READ MORE: What's New in West Chester! (1Q-2024)
West Chester made the move to an online zoning permit process! That's right, ladies and gentlemen, no more riding your dogsled through the snow in January to our office with your eight sets of plans rolled up under your arm. Project plans can now be submitted from the warmth of your home in your pajama pants. Progress is a wonderful thing. www.WestChesterOH.org/Permits
In other news, I made my NPR debut. Our previous quarterly newsletter featured a story about the Aerospace Industry in West Chester written by the unmatched Vicki Eldridge. The article sparked quite the buzz, and WYSO reached out for an interview. You can listen here: https://www.wyso.org/business-economy-news/2023-10-25/west-chester-township-aerospace-hub-in-miami-valley.
This quarter's resource to know is Tech Cred. Tech Cred is a State of Ohio reimbursable grant program for training. TechCred helps Ohioans learn new skills and helps employers build a stronger workforce with the skills needed in a technology-infused economy. Many of these trainings can be completed online. These technology-focused credentials take a year or less to complete and prepare current and future employees for the technology jobs Ohio employers need. To see if this grant program can help you upskill, visit https://techcred.ohio.gov/about.
I'm looking for new friends this new year, so follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WestChesterEconomicDevelopment/. Or drop me a line at kkanelopoulos@westchesteroh.org. I'd love to hear what is new in your life.
West Chester, Ohio, where families grow, businesses prosper, and all the permitting is online.