“Starting strong is good. Finishing strong is EPIC.”
-Robin Sharma
As we enter the holiday season and gather for our final board meetings and community gatherings of 2018, I’m reminded that we have one more year before the end of another decade. A decade that has brought us the longest economic expansion in history, incredible growth by U.S. technology companies, an oil and gas revolution in Ohio and other areas of the United States and the revival of a damaged auto industry. Beyond that, we’ve seen the realization of the internet of things, the coming of age of a new generation of workers, an opioid epidemic, the rise of a global middle class, continued growth of China as an economic power, increased movement to urban areas, and finally, even more complicated issues of poverty and wealth disparities.
2019 will perhaps be even more turbulent than recent years, but as always, we enter it with optimism and energy. We all have so much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving season. We’re thankful for the thousands of leaders that contribute their time and treasure to make our communities better. We’re thankful for the professionals who study their craft to innovate within the guardrails of government and non-profit sectors in order to find new pathways to growth and opportunity in economic development. We’re thankful for public leaders who are willing to only volunteer their leadership, put their ideas forward and make tough decisions in an unforgiving world. We’re thankful for business – the jobs it creates, and the investment in people and the physical environment that makes our communities what they are. We are thankful for the risk-takers, the Main Street merchants, the serial entrepreneurs, and for angels and venture investors that fuel their dreams.
And just a few additional notes of gratitude this week. First, to the Central Ohio NAIOP chapter that recognized One Columbus with an award for Economic Development Excellence this past week. Thank you to all of the members that build, finance and create the places that make our communities special.
Second, to all of the people that helped in Columbus’ Amazon HQ2 effort. We learned a lot, and we are putting it into practice each day. We are grateful for an even stronger relationship with the Amazon and AWS teams as we move forward. It was an incredible experience to have had as an economic development team and community.
Finally, have a great Thanksgiving! We hope you will express your gratitude to those that you work with to build your communities, and let’s end 2018 strong and safely.
-Kenny McDonald
One Columbus Update: Upcoming Event
On December 7 we will gather with hundreds of allies and our partners of the Mid-Ohio Development Exchange for the annual Economic Development 411 event at the Ohio Union on the campus of The Ohio State University.
We will celebrate our continued economic performance and address our most daunting challenges. Come hear from economic development guru Amy Holloway from Avalanche Consulting, be welcomed by the Governor elect of Ohio Mike DeWine and get inspired by one of the greatest entrepreneurs in American history, Les Wexner, the founder and CEO of L Brands.
Click here to learn more and register.