City Council Talks Industrial Development

Providing more space for industrial development will require significant infrastructure investment

Earlier this week, City Council’s Committee of the Whole focused on a critical issue facing the city: the need for industrial land expansion and utility improvements to support future economic growth. The meeting, included a presentation by city officials including Development Director Tim Davis and Assistant City Engineer Jill Rhoades. Both officials presented a comprehensive overview of Troy's current industrial landscape and the challenges it faces in attracting new businesses and retaining existing ones.

The presentation highlighted Troy's strong industrial base and consistent income tax revenues but emphasized the significant constraint of available industrial land. The argument being that with such limited opportunities for industrial development, the city’s income tax base will inevitably suffer. With only 122 acres available in the northern industrial park and 57 acres in the southern park, Troy is unable to respond to the majority of requests for information (RFIs) it receives from businesses looking to locate in the area. In 2024 alone, Troy could only submit proposals for four out of 77 site selection projects, potentially missing out on 3,000 jobs and $425 million in capital expenditure.

To address this issue, city officials presented a growth strategy focused on expanding utilities to a 966-acre area in the northwest part of the city. This area, identified in Troy's recently adopted comprehensive plan as a potential industrial growth zone, would require significant infrastructure investments to make it "shovel-ready" for development. The proposed utility improvements include upgrading water and sewer lines, with estimated costs ranging from $35 to $50 million for water infrastructure alone.

The meeting spent considerable discussion on the potential benefits of this expansion, including the ability to attract diverse industries such as data centers, which could bring high-paying jobs to the area. Officials emphasized that this growth strategy is not about competing with neighboring communities, noting that neighboring Piqua seems to be a future home of this type of development, but rather about positioning Troy for future economic opportunities.

Council members and city staff engaged in a robust discussion about the proposal, addressing concerns about the project's cost, timeline, and potential impact on the community. Key points of discussion included the need to balance industrial growth with maintaining Troy's character, the importance of having shovel-ready sites to attract businesses, the potential return on investment, and the impact on utility rates for existing residents and businesses.

Throughout the meeting, council members expressed general support for the idea of expanding Troy's industrial capacity, recognizing the importance of economic growth for the city's future. However, they also emphasized the need for careful planning, financial prudence, and ongoing communication with the public about the project's progress and impact.

The council ultimately provided a consensus direction for city staff to continue exploring this industrial growth strategy. They encouraged staff to proceed with the comprehensive water and sewer master plans, which will provide more detailed information about the city's infrastructure needs and capabilities; the master water plan slated for 2025 and the master sewer plan following in 2026. Council members also expressed interest in seeing more specific financial plans and funding mechanisms for the proposed improvements.

This meeting represents a renewed committment from the community as it meets the challenges of maintaining its economic competitiveness in a rapidly changing business environment. The community has always been a welcoming to business and industry and has long used business attraction as a part of an overall strategy to help the community prosper; some residents might find it interesting that even the Hobart Corporation was recruited to Troy from Middletown in the early parts of the 20th Century.

The discussion highlighted the complex interplay between economic development, infrastructure investment, and community character that many small to mid-sized cities face. As Troy moves forward with this initiative, it will need to balance the desire for growth with the need to preserve the qualities that make it an attractive place to live and work.

The next steps for Troy will certainly involve more detailed planning and financial analysis, continued engagement with the public and potential development partners, and ongoing discussions about how to implement this growth strategy in a way that benefits the entire community. As the project progresses, it will be crucial for city leaders to maintain transparency, seek diverse input, and remain flexible in their approach to ensure that Troy's industrial expansion aligns with the broader goals and values of our community.

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