WEST CHESTER TWP. — Considering Cincinnati and Dayton as one region is crucial to reaping financial benefit from the development boom here, economic leaders told a group of 45 investors Wednesday.

        The two cities and suburbs in between hold 2.93 million people, making the region the 15th-largest in the nation, according to a study derived from the 2000 Census and highlighted at a luncheon at Wetherington Golf and Country Club.

        The Cincinnati-Dayton ranking is expected to increase in the 2010 Census, economic officials predict.

        “A tremendous strategic opportunity is looking at Dayton and Cincinnati working together as a region,” said Nick Vehr, vice president of economic development at the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce.

        “The world will look at Cincinnati and Dayton as one place. Everything is growing more competitive every day and we need to work together to stimulate economic growth in the 13 counties of Cincinnati, USA.”

        Mr. Vehr; Melissa Koehler, executive director of the West Chester Community Improvement Corp.; and Butler County Economic Development Director Andy Kuchta sought to reassure investors at the luncheon, hosted by the West Chester group.

        They said they are aggressively recruiting companies globally. And West Chester is targeting the township's top 50 to 75 employers for expansion or relocation.

        West Chester Township Administrator Dave Gully has loaned an administrative assistant to the community improvement corporation for six months, in part to focus on contacting those companies to see if they have expansion or relocation needs.

        “There are many business-assistance programs available from state and local agencies, and we want to make sure they are aware they exist,” Ms. Koehler said.

        That makes good sense, especially in a down economy, she said, given that 60 percent of new business investment is generated by existing ones.

        Mr. Vehr also noted that 80 percent of new jobs come from companies adding employees incrementally.

        “We want to put out a feeler to the major corporations to see if they have a need for assistance in job-growth tax credits,” Ms. Koehler said. “We are going to do a better job in reaching out and explaining to this to them.”

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