The Columbus region’s humming economic engine could stall if we don’t get the worsening housing shortfall under control.
That was the crux of the message from a recent panel of community leaders assembled by the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio to discuss the connection between economic development and affordable housing. (Watch the replay here.)
Kenny McDonald, who has led the region’s economic-development efforts for the past decade-plus as head of what’s now One Columbus, told the panel it concerns him when the availability of affordable housing no longer matches the pitch he’s made to businesses moving or expanding here.
“It goes to the very heart of having the mindset of a growth region, meaning there’s a lot of responsibility that comes with that,” he said. “We like to brag about all the people moving here, we love to brag about all the great employers that we have here. But we also want to brag that we’re fulfilling those promises that we can supply the workforce, that those people can have a place to call home.
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