Vibrant Community Program
Supporting economic development in small and medium sized communities
The State of Ohio has long been home to many of the most economically dynamic and livable communities and urban centers this country offers. JobsOhio recognizes that some smaller and mid-sized cities that make Ohio culturally rich have struggled to compete as companies and talent migrate to major metro areas. These smaller communities are part of the social fabric of Ohio and a vital part of the State’s economy. They need resources that will better position them to attract more private investment and create new opportunities for their residents.
The Vibrant Community Program recognizes that distressed communities may not have adequate resources to develop and implement economic development projects that can attract private investment and create new jobs. The program was established to assist distressed small and medium sized communities with the implementation of catalytic development projects that fulfill a market need and represent a significant reinvestment in areas that have struggled to attract new investment.
College@Elm
Watch as the Oxford Community celebrates the grand opening of the Lee and Rosemary Fisher Innovation College@Elm. A public-private partnership between Miami University, the City of Oxford, and The Fischer Group, the Fisher Innovation College@Elm transformed a 39,000-square-foot vacant building into a hub of creativity and innovation, imagination and design, and art and science.
The innovation and workforce development center is a modern, vibrant facility for incubating and accelerating entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses that offers the training and workforce education necessary to produce Ohio’s future manufacturing and high-tech workforce.