Positioning Powell as a Premier Destination

The Powell Development Corporation (PDC) is committed to building a vibrant, thriving business mix that capitalizes on the massive visitor traffic surrounding our community. With over 12 million visitors annually to major nearby attractions like the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium (2+ million visitors) and Polaris Fashion Place (10+ million visitors), Powell is strategically positioned to capture significant tourist spending.

Our strategy focuses on attracting high-value entertainment, retail, family entertainment, and food and beverage businesses to serve this vast visitor market, as well as our affluent local community.

The Strategy: Building a Tourism Corridor

The City of Powell is actively working to develop a tourism corridor along State Route 750 (SR750) between the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium and Polaris Fashion Place. This initiative aims to:

• Capture Tourist Spending: Our location provides an excellent opportunity for the community to intercept tourist traffic and convert visitors into customers. Tourism-related economic impact in central Powell was estimated at at least $29 million in 2024 for sectors like arts, entertainment, and recreation.

• Target Entertainment and Retail: The PDC recognizes that the Powell Market Area (PMA) has very few entertainment options, indicating a high market opportunity. Households in the PMA already spend an average of $7,600 per year on entertainment, showing a strong local demand to build upon.

• Utilize Key Sites: We are actively seeking entertainment users to adaptively use key facilities, such as the 53,000 SF facility at 3474 Sawmill Parkway, for family entertainment.

Incentives for Targeted Growth

To attract the desired business mix, the PDC offers comprehensive economic development incentives:

• Performance-Based Grants: Including Performance-Based Business Attraction Grants and Business Retention & Expansion Grants.

• Tax Incentives: Such as Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) Tax Abatements and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for public infrastructure.

By leveraging our strategic location, the affluence of our residents (driving the state's highest consumer purchasing capability), and a proactive incentives program, the PDC is creating a compelling environment for the businesses that will draw and serve the over 12 million regional visitors.