The Director of Public Service and Economic Development serves to develop, coordinate, activate, implement, encourage, foster and promote plans and programs for economic and community development, redevelopment and improvement for and within the City.

Known today for its exceptional master-planned and progressive business development, new infrastructure projects, and outstanding adjacent park system, the City of Fairview Park has become one of the area’s most dynamic communities. Committed to ensuring high quality development standards, the City of Fairview Park has distinguished itself as a place where residents desire to live, work and play. Through its unique innovations and progressive planning, the Economic Development Department has helped to create the quality of life that has made Fairview Park the community it is today.

Our Economic Development efforts continue to be strategic. We know one of the best ways to assist our local economy and our tax base is to aggressively pursue our target areas which brings the types of jobs that will add long term value to our community. We also realize that any true economic development initiative must be comprehensive and multifaceted. Existing problems with blight and underutilized property must be addressed as well. We also recognize that our fine community is a bedroom community.

We do not look upon this as a challenge but as an asset. We are a city that welcomes the new while keeping the best of the past – our pedestrian friendly sidewalks, coffee shops, restaurants, family-owned businesses, parks, and our library, all of which tie together the past, present and the future. This department is under the direction of Service and Development Director Jim Kennedy, who is responsible for maintaining, promoting and expanding economic revitalization in Fairview Park.

Recently the administration submitted legislation to City Council to establish a land bank primarily to secure our tax exempt status, and the two recently acquired motels will be the first properties to be a part of this bank.

As we continue our efforts to bring more business investment to Fairview Park, the following programs have been established to enhance these activities:

COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AREA - TAX ABATEMENT
Business applicants can receive property tax abatements up to 100% for seven years on new construction or renovated structures.

STOREFRONT RENOVATION PROGRAM
The city, through its membership in the First Suburbs Consortium (FSC), provides a Storefront Renovation Program, in addition to the Cuyahoga County Program, and unique to FSC member communities, that can provide grants of 40% of total project value up to $8,000 for renovation of business facilities.

GROW NOW PROGRAM
Sponsored by the State of Ohio Treasurer’s office and in partnership with eligible local banks, this program enables small business owners to receive a three percent (3%) interest rate reduction on a bank loan for facilities’ improvements when the loan is linked to job growth or retention in the state of Ohio.  Click here for the GrowNOW Brochure.

Call Jim Kennedy at 440-356-4412 or Tom Lenahan at 440-356-4449 for additional information regarding these business assistance programs.