According to the National Citizen Survey, economic development in Dublin ranked highest in resident satisfaction in a benchmark list of more than 230 communities.

The survey was performed in late 2009 by the National Research Center, Inc., in partnership with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). The survey allows Dublin to compare its resident satisfaction levels regarding community amenities and government services with peer jurisdictions nationwide.

Among 238 communities surveyed, Dublin ranked second in a benchmark list of places to work.

In 2009, the recognition the community received as one of the best places to do business extended beyond the results of this survey. In 2009, Dublin was named:

• A Top 7 Intelligent Community by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF). Dublin competed with hundreds of communities around the world for this distinction and will learn in May if it is the Intelligent Community of the Year.
• The best small city in the United States to start a business by Fox Business News, citing the high quality of Dublin’s infrastructure.
• The best small city in Ohio to start a business by BusinessWeek, citing Dublin’s ability to attract highly skilled and educated people.
• A top 25 place to move to in the U.S. by Forbes.com, which focused on areas most likely to attract professionals.
Although many factors contributed to these accolades, ICF co-founder Lou Zacharilla points to the Dublin Entrepreneurial Center (DEC) at 7003 Post Rd. as a significant achievement in fostering a culture of opportunity for local entrepreneurs.

He applauded Dublin for pioneering a process of “engineered facilitation” by bringing people from public and private organizations together for a common purpose.

The founding of the DEC is a powerful confirmation of this process. Opened in 2009, the DEC quickly became a hub of small business development and growth.

"What makes the DEC environment so great is the combination of business and community development programs that offer expert advisors and resources to help your business grow right,” says Josh Koch, CEO of EcoChem Alternative Fuels, a tenant at the DEC. “It’s also home to a diverse network of collaborators to really create a brick and mortar business community ideal for growth.”

The early success of the DEC allowed city officials and its partners to move forward with the next innovation, The Green Integrator, at the modest four-story building on the outskirts of Dublin.

In April, the “Green Integrator” within the DEC will open, with 15 tenants focused on green technologies.

“It’s not a traditional ‘incubator.’ Instead, we call it a ‘green integrator,’” says Dana McDaniel, deputy city manager and director of Economic Development. “We are bringing together companies, many of whom are start-ups that have green technologies they are advancing. We are both creating new technologies and advancing green technologies to the market place.”

Also central to the DEC’s success is the city’s partnership with TechColumbus and the Small Business Development Center.

“This partnership has allowed TechColumbus and the Small Business Development Center the chance to offer a broad range of educational programs, networking opportunities and mentor services to the owners of the 40 businesses currently in the DEC and many others not in the DEC but trying to start a new business,” says Rick Coplin, a venture development director for TechColumbus.

Dublin, its DEC partners and the DEC tenants will celebrate the first anniversary of the facility in April. For more information, visit www.dublin.oh.us.