A successful public meeting was held recently on the westside of Columbus. As many of you know who live in this area, a casino is currently being constructed and will locate on the westside of town. It is locating in an area that was on the downward spiral in terms of neighborhood and community revitalization and stabilization. This area was at one time, a vibrant community, but lost major employment centers and large retail shopping establishments during the previous 15 years. The casino is being touted as a major "boost" to the economy and is viewed by many as a catalyst for revitalization of businesses and residential development in the area. A national consultant from Bethesda, Maryland, RCLCO has been hired to assist the area with identifying economic development strategies that may help revitalize this community. A major focus with this process is to engage the community to be a part of this process. So, my company, Cartier Burrus LLC, was also hired to work with RCLCO on this project . My role is to work closely with the community to encourage active participation, involve all facets of the community and ensure that the process is inclusive. I am pleased to say that this community wants to be included and engaged in the planning process as the study unfolds. They are excited about the casino for the most part and even more excited about the "spin off" development that is likely to occur as a result of having the casino as their neighbor.
The first public meeting held last week attracted 150 people which speaks volumes to their level of interest and commitment to their community. The meeting was interactive and involved and engaged the community. I have conducted a number of successful community and this meeting process that was held last week, was conducted in an effective way when seeking input from the community and was very successful. I left the meeting feeling very positive about the outcome and look forward to reaching out and encouraging even more community members to actively participate in this community driven process. I strongly encourage anyone who lives in this area to pay attention to what is going on and to try and participate with the process. I know you'll be pleased.
There are many ways to connect with the process. The easiest is to get involved with the community leadership already established. They are engaged and will willingly talk with you about this process. Stay tuned to the local Dispatch which is reporting regulary about the comings and goings of the entire development process involving the casino. There is also a facebook page that is now active and established to provide ongoing information about the economic development process. You can find it on the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation page. And last but not least you can contact me, Roxyanne Burrus, President, Cartier Burrus LLC. You can locate me on facebook, linked-in and twitter and I will respond to any questions and concerns you may have about the current activity in the area. My best advice is to stay tuned!!
Study: Casino to revitalize West Side | The Columbus Dispatch
Firm will write plan for area near casino | The Columbus Dispatch