By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Every semester, Bowling Green State University professor Abhishek Bhati asks his students if they plan to stay in town after they graduate.
“I ask every class, about 100 students a semester, how many of you will stay in BG. I usually don’t get more than one or two,” said Bhati, a public administration professor. “Why is it we’re not able to attract students to stay?”
As a member of the city’s Planning Commission, Bhati posed the question during a meeting last week when the commission looked over updates to the economic development section of the city’s master plan.
“This is a nice little town,” he said. “Could we attract young students to come and build their lives here?”
Bhati mentioned possible negatives to graduates putting down roots in Bowling Green, such as the housing options and the climate.
In the proposed plan, Bowling Green’s four strategic economic development goals are:
- Sustained economic growth. The city attracts, retains and facilitates the expansion of industrial, professional and commercial business.
- Infrastructure and utility development. The city optimizes planning, funding and partnerships for beneficial land development and expanding municipal utilities.
- Encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. The city creates a community culture of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, making Bowling Green the Northwest Ohio hub for these activities.
- Improve quality of life. The city collaborates and participates in community development efforts that enhance the quality of life for residents.
While the goals address economic development, Bhati asked if the plan was lacking the humanities.
He also asked about graduates wanting to start up tech projects.
“Why do they have to go to Cleveland to set up a tech forum?” Bhati asked.
Bowling Green Economic Development Director Kati Thompson said she shares the concerns about graduates not sticking around. She explained that while the proposed economic development plan is brief, there are a lot of more detailed ideas backing up the goals of encouraging innovation and improving quality of life.
“We have some more specific and strategic goals,” she said. Those plans include creating a pipeline of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Thompson said she met with BGSU officials last week on the issue.
“We want to figure out where those gaps are and how we can fill in those gaps to hopefully retain some of the students and talent here,” she said.
The planning commission voted unanimously to approve the economic development updates to the city’s master plan. Members liked the streamlined approach that replaced the 14-page document from 1987 with the new one-page plan.
Thompson described the update as offering a “comprehensive yet nimble approach.”
“It looks at the big picture rather than the minute details,” said Bob McOmber, chairman of the planning commission.
“Kudos to you for making this very brief,” commission member Judy Ennis said.
Two commission members, Mark Remeis and Will Airhart, suggested that the updated plan include a goal of identifying opportunities for redevelopment – which was approved by the commission.
In addition to the overall goals, key economic development efforts in the update include:
- Meeting annually with industry leaders to assess successes, challenges and opportunities for solutions.
- Analyzing key industry sectors (professional services, manufacturing, trades) to recruit based on community assets and goals.
- Supporting workforce development initiatives.
- Preparing land for future development, using the future land use plan as a starting point and the zoning code as a resource.
- Using federal, state and local tools to aid and incentivize development.
- Collaborating with utility partners for effective development.
- Fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Promoting the city and its assets.
- Supporting placemaking initiatives.
