The CIC: Supporting Half a Century of Economic Growth

The Community Improvement Corporation of Wilmington (CIC) is a local non-profit economic development organization focused on facilitating business investment, industrial growth, and job creation in the Wilmington area and Clinton County. For more than 50 years, its mission has been to promote industrial and commercial development, attracting businesses, and helping create employment opportunities in the region.

The CIC was formed in the early 1970s in response to the announcement of the closure of the Clinton County Air Force Base. Having secured private financing, visionary citizens went to Washington DC and purchased the Air Base from the government. The CIC was created to acquire this valuable asset for the community and helped foster economic renewal by helping develop the Wilmington Air Park and associated industrial corridors. It has successfully facilitated land sales to companies such as Ferno, EMSAR, and many others that now employ many local residents. Most recently the CIC has assisted in bringing Zimmer Tractor to Wilmington.

The CIC’s main goals and activities include: managing, maintaining, and promoting industrial sites and industrial park lands within Wilmington; facilitating business growth and job creation by making property available and encouraging commercial investment; contributing to community infrastructure such as the extension of Davids Drive and utilities; and enhancing social vitality through educational and quality of life projects, such as supporting local schools and nature areas.

The CIC of Wilmington is unique in the state of Ohio in that it has never taken any government or public funds. Most CICs are financially supported by the government they serve. The CIC of Wilmington is a privately funded non-profit that can act on behalf of the City of Wilmington, when requested, to foster economic development, especially in the acquisition and disposal of real property. The CIC also partners with the Clinton County Port Authority and others to financially support the office of Economic Development for Clinton County. As similar organizations with different statutory authorities, the CIC and the Port Authority do not work at cross-purposes, but through their excellent relationship, they work together to promote economic growth in our community.

In short, the Community Improvement Corporation of Wilmington is a longstanding local economic development entity that works behind the scenes to attract and support business investment, grow jobs, and enhance community infrastructure in Wilmington and the surrounding county.

For more information, contact David Raizk, Executive Director, or visit www.wilmingtoncic.com.