The City of Hilliard Sustainability Plan

Hilliard Sustainability PlanECON. EXECUTIVE DEV.SOCIAL SUMMARY EQ.only running through Hilliard early morning and late afternoonduring the weekdays, residents are unable to access businessesand private residences without a personal vehicle during the daysor weekends. For Hilliard to be a connected, lifelong community,resident accessibility throughout the city and between Hilliard andthe surrounding community is essential.For those who do have their own vehicle, the average dailycommute time is between 10 and 35 minutes to work each way.19The number of Hilliard households with no vehicles is wellbelow the state and national averages and the number of Hilliardhouseholds with two vehicles is well above the state and nationalaverages. 20 This reliance on automobiles can be a challenge forhouseholds that cannot afford or do not wish to drive a car withrespect to retail and employment access.Economic Development IncentivesOver the last eight years, 2,909 jobs have either been created orrelocated to the city of Hilliard. 22 The most notable employer isBMW, which has been responsible for creating 350 of these jobs.Of the 2,909 jobs that have been created since 2004, 1,251 ofthem are with companies that have relocated to Hilliard. Hilliardalso faces many challenges when it comes to fostering economicdevelopment. Small businesses do not receive the same economicincentives and resources that are available to larger businesses. Theincentives that are offered to companies like BMW are unavailableto small local businesses because the cost of monitoring themwould be more than the incentive. 23 Economic incentives, TaxIncrement Financing (TIFs), local organizations such as DestinationHilliard, and the Chamber of Commerce are all important tools thatHilliard has used to ensure the continued economic sustainabilityof the community and the growth of small business. 24If Hilliard wishes to sustain its economic growth, it is important that theCity assists the growth of both small and large businesses. Although smallbusinesses do not offer the same number of jobs as large companies, theyare still important to Hilliard’s economy. Small business helps to fosterinnovation and create economic competition. There will be a limit to thenumber of businesses that will relocate to Hilliard, making it importantto also expand existing business. There is only one company with fiveemployees that has been offered an incentive. 25 Companies with one tonine employees account for 64% of the businesses in Hilliard (the secondsmallest company has 15 employees). 26 Offering economic incentives suchas reduced loans to small businesses would help these businesses expandand prosper.There is sufficient evidence to suggest that Hilliard needs businesses thatcan provide entertainment opportunities for young adults. One indicator ofthis is Hilliard’s population profile. Young adults ages 18 to 24 make up onlyabout 6% of the city’s population. 27 Both conversation with residents and areview of the City’s Comprehensive Plan have acknowledged that this is anissue. Although it would be unreasonable for Hilliard to attempt to competewith Columbus, if Hilliard does not start providing entertainment optionsfor young adults, they will have a difficult time increasing this populationdemographic. 28Incentives are a critical component of economic development. Accordingto Hilliard’s Economic Development Director, the principle incentive thecity offers is an income tax credit against a percentage of the payroll taxescollected by the city for new employees. Generally, these incentives areabout 20% (of the 2% payroll withholding taxes) for a term of seven years.The city can offer real estate tax abatements but does not utilize this optionas frequently. When the city offers a company an abatement, it is usually94