20 years of work. One focus: Pickaway County.

Who We Are

Pickaway County’s independent economic development agency

The Pickaway Progress Partnership — P3 — is an independent, IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated as a Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) under Ohio law. A coalition of public and private leaders, our sole mission is to help Pickaway County grow in ways that benefit every resident.

P3 was founded about 20 years ago in response to significant job loss in Pickaway County — including the closure of major employers like RCA/Thomson, GE Lighting, and Smurfit — which cost the region an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 manufacturing positions. The founding conviction was straightforward: Pickaway County should build the infrastructure, relationships, and planning frameworks needed to attract and retain employers before the next opportunity arrived, not after.

Today, P3 operates under the Pickaway County Port Authority and is led by Executive Director Brian Hill. A board of directors drawn from both the public and private sectors sets our strategic direction. Board members include elected county commissioners and municipal officials, township trustees, school superintendents and treasurers from across the county’s districts, leaders from the local banking and business communities, representatives from workforce development and career education, utility district administrators, and the heads of civic and tourism organizations — a cross-section of the people and institutions that shape life in Pickaway County every day.

Our role is to connect, coordinate, and advocate — working alongside townships, cities, schools, utilities, and state agencies to make Pickaway County the best possible place to do business and raise a family.

Three values have guided P3 since we were founded: shared prosperity — growth that reaches every resident; collaboration — every stakeholder has a seat at the table; and strategic, intentional growth — thoughtful long-term planning over short-term wins.

What We Do

Attracting employers. Strengthening infrastructure. Supporting community.

P3 has three formal objectives established in our organizational charter. We promote and market the advantages of locating or expanding a business in Pickaway County. We support retention and expansion of employers who are already here. And we deliver a seamless network of economic development services to existing businesses, local governments, and prospective companies throughout the county.

In practice, that work spans site readiness, workforce development, public infrastructure coordination, and community engagement. When requested, we work alongside township trustees, city officials, school leaders, utility providers, and state agencies — though some communities handle their own negotiations directly. Our role is to make sure that when a company is considering Pickaway County, the resources and support they need are available.

• Site readiness

  Identifying, certifying, and developing shovel-ready industrial sites across Pickaway County so companies can make decisions quickly and confidently.

• Business attraction

  Confidential site location assistance, coordination with JobsOhio and One Columbus, and competitive incentive structuring for companies evaluating Pickaway.

• Business retention and expansion

  Supporting existing employers with expansion planning, workforce connections, and access to state and local programs that help them grow here rather than elsewhere.

• Infrastructure coordination

  Aligning road, utility, and broadband investments with development timelines through partnerships with ODOT, utility providers, townships, and the Port Authority.

• Workforce development

  Partnering with school districts, career centers, and regional institutions to connect residents — especially young people — with skills and careers in growth industries.

• Community engagement

  Hosting listening sessions, participating in public meetings, and maintaining an Agriculture Committee with local farmers to ensure development reflects community values.

What We Offer Our Investors

A proven return for the entire county

P3 uses the term “investors” for the businesses, local governments, and community organizations that fund our work — because that’s what they are: investors in Pickaway County’s future. In return for their support, investors receive ongoing engagement and, depending on investment level and seat availability, the opportunity for direct board participation, along with tangible organizational benefits.

The results speak for themselves. Over the past decade, P3’s investor-supported work has contributed to nearly $75 million in non-local infrastructure funding secured for Pickaway County, more than $700 million in private investment and $3+ billion in total capital investment, and the creation of more than 5,000 jobs — reversing decades of industrial decline.

Because P3 is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all investor contributions are fully tax-deductible.

• $75M+ Non-local infrastructure funding secured
• $700M+ Private investment attracted
• 5,000+ Jobs created
• $3B+ Total capital investment
• ~20 yrs Continuous economic development service

What investors receive

• Opportunity for board representation and a direct voice in P3’s strategic priorities, based on investment level and seat availability
• Access to market analysis, site data, development pipeline updates, and regional economic intelligence
• Engagement with P3’s network of county, state, and regional partners as relevant to your work in Pickaway County
• Full tax deductibility on all contributions as an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit

How We Are Funded

Public investment and private support, working together

P3 draws funding from both the public and private sectors. That balance is by design: it keeps our work connected to the full community — government, business, and residents — and ensures we’re accountable to Pickaway County as a whole.

P3 is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our filings are public record, and our board includes representatives from across the community. The same people who invest in our work help shape its direction.

• Public sector

  County government and municipal contributions, investments from Joint Economic Development Districts (JEDDs), and periodic state and federal grants for specific programs and infrastructure projects.

• Private sector investors

  Annual pledges from local businesses, manufacturers, financial institutions, utilities, and professional service firms who have a stake in Pickaway County’s economic health.

• Project-based grants

  Competitive grants from state programs including JobsOhio, the Ohio Department of Development, and federal programs such as EDA and USDA Rural Development for specific economic development initiatives.

• Port Authority partnership

  As a CIC operating under the Pickaway County Port Authority, P3 also accesses economic development tools including sales tax exemptions and bond financing available through the Port.

How We Use Those Funds

Invested in Pickaway County

P3 runs a lean operation. Funds support a small professional staff, the programs and tools that drive economic development, and direct investment in site readiness and community infrastructure. Everything we raise goes back into the county.

1. Operations and staff

   Salaries and benefits for a small professional team — currently led by Executive Director Brian Hill — along with office costs, technology, and day-to-day administration. P3’s team is intentionally lean to maximize the resources directed toward programming and community impact.

2. Site readiness and infrastructure coordination

   Preparing industrial sites, managing utility extensions, coordinating road and access improvements, and ensuring that Pickaway County’s available properties are certified and competitive when companies evaluate them.

3. Business attraction and marketing

   Trade show participation, site selector outreach, digital and print marketing of Pickaway County’s assets, and coordination with regional and state partners including JobsOhio and One Columbus to ensure Pickaway is positioned competitively for major projects.

4. Workforce and education partnerships

   Supporting workforce development programs with local school districts, career centers, and training institutions that connect Pickaway County residents — especially young people — to careers in the county’s growing industries.

5. Community engagement and stakeholder programs

   Funding listening sessions, public meetings, the Agriculture Committee, and communications programs that ensure all residents — including those skeptical of growth — have a genuine opportunity to shape development decisions in their community.

6. Grant administration and special projects

   Managing competitive grant awards from state and federal sources for targeted projects such as brownfield remediation, infrastructure investment, incubator development, and small business support programs.