By Paula Pyzik Scott

The August 20 meeting of the Bluffton Lions Club featured a presentation by Dave Stratton, President and CEO of Greater Lima Region, Inc. (GLR) on what’s new in the world of regional planning and promotion. The public was invited to this program.

Stratton’s eye is on a slice of northwest Ohio that includes Bluffton and nine counties. Bluffton is where he grew up and the room where the Lions meet is where he was commissioned by the Bluffton American Legion to take part in the Buckeye Boys State program.

The tone of Stratton’s presentation was casual and he gave the Lions ample opportunity to ask questions. Stratton’s audience seemed plugged into the Allen County community, but even so, he was able to surprise them with the following: Site Selection magazine has rated Lima as third in the nation in 2023 for development among cities of a similar size (34,977 in 2022). 

Also of special interest was GLR’s list of Generational Projects:

Project Gunsmoke (proposed spec building) 

Allen County Home site redevelopment 

Lima Mall

Project BOSC

American Township

Project Robinson

Edco Project

Memorial Hall redevelopment

American Mall

Project Nadella 

Perry Township

Stratton talked about the need to bring jobs to an area where the population is shrinking. Development will always raise some objections even with highly popular projects. Stratton noted that a proposed Microsoft data center could bring millions of dollars in revenue to Perry Township and local schools. Some residents are concerned that the facilities would significantly change the rural character of their surroundings.

Have you been to downtown Lima this summer? Stratton asked his audience. He encouraged them to visit the new Spring and Main restaurants and Greater Lima Region Park & Amphitheater. These new attractions have followed on the heels of a new Rhodes State College campus downtown. Some $60 million has been invested in downtown Lima by various organizations.

About Greater Lima Region Inc.
GLR’s mission includes developing private financial support, generational projects, workforce development, downtown vibrancy, housing and marketing.

Check out the region's profile: https://greaterlimaregion.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Greater-Lima-Re...