Economic Development Week, May 8 through May 12, is a great opportunity to celebrate the many businesses, large and small, that invest in New Albany’s shared vision and enable us to build a vibrant, connected community dedicated to lifelong learning, health and wellness, arts and culture and environmental sustainability.
Last year, the New Albany International Business Park experienced record setting growth in private investment – 2,800% – landing major players across multiple industry sectors. Our existing businesses continued to invest in many ways, first and foremost, through job creation and taxes that support city services. We are equally proud of the growth in retailers, restaurants and small businesses that now call New Albany home. They are essential to achieving a one-of-a-kind community of choice.
More importantly, we have been humbled by the remarkable support and participation of the businesses who believe in our community pillars and help to advance them. They are generous in their philanthropy and enthusiastically support the New Albany Community Foundation as well as many other nonprofits who call New Albany and the Columbus region home. Park employees – now numbering more than 24,000 – volunteer throughout the community, from the A&F Challenge and the Walking Classic to LifeTown Columbus, Healthy New Albany and the Food Pantry, contributing thousands of hours of service. Executives and employees provide exceptional thought leadership lending their talent and expertise to boards, commissions, nonprofits and service organizations, including the New Albany Chamber of Commerce. Businesses and residents engage in our strategic planning process that guides us in becoming even more inclusive and collaborative.
“We Get Business” is a theme we have used to express our ability to anticipate and quickly respond to business needs. It also reflects why so many businesses choose to make New Albany home and, most importantly, continue to invest here. Together, we are building a resilient, robust economy. We are leveraging public private partnerships to prioritize services and amenities and working collaboratively to realize our full potential.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the New Albany International Business Park which has grown to more than $28 billion in private investment and 9,000 acres. Each of our existing innovation clusters has attracted leading organizations. Amgen, Pharmavite and Amplify Bio are growing roots in the Health & Life Sciences cluster, joining early investors like American Regent. In the Personal Care and Beauty Campus, Alene Candles, Axium Packaging, Reike and Voyant Beauty have expanded their presence here. Meta and Google continue to increase their footprints in the Information Technology & Mission Critical cluster. Investor confidence has spurred Van Trust, Lincoln Property Group and Al Neyer to build 3.2 million square feet of speculative commercial space.
New Albany is at the epicenter of a Heartland revival thanks to Intel Corporation’s $20 billion investment here. The largest investment in Ohio’s history has become the catalyst for the development of a new semiconductor innovation cluster that is rapidly attracting companies in related industries.
Success does not happen by chance. We have worked hard to earn a strong reputation for collaboration, proactive planning and fast track permitting that enables us to anticipate and respond to the needs of businesses with smarter, faster and more innovative solutions.
When businesses of all sizes invest in New Albany it’s a win-win for residents and employees. Our diversified tax base allows us to make tremendous strides in turning our vision of a stronger, healthier, greener and better community into a reality.
From new community gathering spots like Taylor Farm Park and the planned Rose Run expansion with a Veterans Memorial to building the infrastructure to accommodate growth, we remain focused on creating an unparalleled quality of life while attracting new business to support ever-expanding amenities and services.