Special to 1808Delaware
At their 2023 State of the County event earlier this week, the Delaware County Commissioners used the occasion to shine the spotlight on the 1,100+ employees of the county and all that they do to make Delaware County “the best Ohio county to live in,” according to a national relocation firm.
Niche.com, a company that helps families find the best communities to live in, once again tapped Delaware County as Ohio’s best and, as Commissioner Jeff Benton, president of this year’s Board of Commissioners, noted in his remarks, “We couldn’t agree more.”
The annual event attracted its largest audience ever with more than 225 local leaders and community representatives in attendance. It was held at the Delaware County Fairgrounds’ Agricultural Center. Among those gathered were many of the 160 volunteers who have been appointed to county boards. Also present were recipients of $240,000 in community enhancement grants that the Commissioners awarded to local non-profits in 2022.
The Commissioners also announced that the Chicago office of international consulting firm AECOM is partnering with their Economic Development Department to develop a new strategic plan. The plan, last updated in 2017, will address the many opportunities and challenges that recent events like the arrival of Intel and the development of Berlin Business Park now pose.
Several videos also were debuted at the event. One takes a deep dive into demographic statistics about the county that were gathered during the most recent U.S. Census and another showcased major roads and bridges projects in the county. The videos, along with presentations from Commissioner Gary Merrell, Barb Lewis and Benton, can be viewed on the county’s website at: https://co.delaware.oh.us/2023-state-of-the-county/.
