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Why Westerville: Future-ready, trusted partners

According to Costar, a commercial real estate database, nearly 90% of Westerville's 10.8 million square feet of non-residential space stands occupied as of June 2025. That figure indicates what Westerville businesses, from small merchants in Uptown to large publicly traded corporations in the Polaris-area Westar business district already know: Westerville continues to top the list of locations for businesses to grow and thrive. What makes Westerville a stand-out location in the Columbus region? Location, location, location Westerville's proximity to major highways and the John Glenn International Airport (CMH) offers seamless access to regional and national markets. It's also situated in one of the fastest-growing parts of the state, with access to talent in southern Delaware County and northern Franklin County. This combination of location advantages and a supportive business environment makes Westerville an ideal choice for companies looking to establish or expand their presence in central Ohio. World-class municipal utilities Westerville is the only community in the Columbus Region with three of its own public utilities: electric, water, and WeConnect — the nation's only municipally owned and operated and publicly accessible data center and fiber network. Local control over utilities equates to the highest standards of public service excellence and affordable rates. Shovel-ready sites in amenity-rich areas In Westar, the City of Westerville serves as the 'master developer' for sites and infrastructure. This model expedites the development process and gives companies the flexibility of choosing their own developer and contractor teams. Westar is also known for its proximity to amenities in a walkable, park-like setting, making Westerville an ideal place for talent attraction and retention. This list of qualities would appeal to any site selector. But there's always more to location decisions than just the bottom line. Sense of place Uptown Westerville is one of the best preserved and most authentic historic centers in Ohio. Uptown's blend of historic buildings, vibrant streetscape, wide range of shops, boutiques and restaurants as well as community events like Fourth Fridays make it a true gathering spot with a memorable sense of place. Designated a National Register Historic District in 2019, the City continues to place a high priority on promoting an 'Authentic and Alive Uptown.' In 2024, Uptown Westerville played host to more than 60 community events which welcomed approximately 160,000 in attendance and accounted for nearly a $4 million economic impact for local businesses. Westerville partnership Westerville is a place where innovation and tradition work hand-in-hand and where success is more than growth and a high occupancy rate. For Westerville, success is about being future-ready and trusted partners for our businesses. With the goal of advancing Westerville authentically and responsibly, the City takes a personalized and solutions-oriented approach to development, while leveraging a broad network of regional partners like the Westerville Area Chamber, Otterbein University, the Delaware County Finance Authority and many others. 'Westerville has thrived on creating a business ecosystem that fosters less competition and more collaboration,' said Mike Ashanin, chief operating officer for Central Ohio Primary Care Physicians, whose three-building headquarters and medical office campus is located in Westar. 'Their commitment to resources, amenities and a dedication to blending the old and the new together has resulted in a vibrant community that makes it a great place to work and stay.' expand The City of Westerville is in a prime location for businesses seeking a balance of suburban tranquility and urban access. Its proximity to major highways and airways facilitates seamless access to global markets and makes Westerville an ideal choice for companies looking to establish or expand in central Ohio. For more about Westerville's thriving business climate, visit Westerville is a full-service city of more than 40,000 residents and a leader in job creation. Known as a 'City within a Park,' Westerville boasts more than 41 parks and 51 miles of trails. The City operates its own electric and water utilities, data center, fire/EMS and police. Rachel Ray leads the City of Westerville's Economic Development division, administering the City's business retention, expansion and attraction programs and managing economic development and incentive projects. She also serves on the Mid-Ohio Development Exchange (MODE) board of trustees.