Lucas County Launches LCReady Program to Boost Economic Development

New initiative aims to streamline site certification and marketing to attract manufacturers and businesses.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 2:50am

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An abstract geometric illustration using bold shapes and primary colors to represent the concepts of land, infrastructure, and streamlined processes for economic development site certification.A new site certification program aims to make Lucas County more competitive for job-creating development projects.Toledo Today

Lucas County, Ohio has launched a new program called LCReady to help speed up the process for economic development projects. The program will certify development-ready sites, utilize job creation resources like JobsOhio, and work with site selection consultants to market Lucas County's opportunities to potential businesses looking to expand or relocate.

Why it matters

With ongoing population decline in the region, Lucas County and the city of Toledo are focused on stemming decades of economic decline by improving their competitiveness for manufacturing and commercial projects. Having a portfolio of 'shovel-ready' development sites is seen as crucial to attracting new investment and job creation.

The details

The LCReady program requires certified sites to be at least 20 acres, zoned for manufacturing or commercial use, have utility capacity, and have completed environmental assessments. An AI-powered permitting tool will also help catch errors and streamline the development approval process. The goal is to create an inventory of sites that are truly 'ready-to-build' for companies considering expansion or relocation.

  • Lucas County launched the LCReady program in April 2026.
  • The Toledo Community Improvement Corporation recently funded a $20 million program to develop city-owned sites.

The players

Lucas County

The county government of Lucas County, Ohio, which includes the city of Toledo.

JobsOhio

A private non-profit corporation that works to attract business investment and economic development to the state of Ohio.

Pete Gerken

A Lucas County Commissioner who observed that delays in the development process can deter potential investors.

Toledo Community Improvement Corporation

A non-profit economic development organization that has funded a $20 million program to develop city-owned sites in Toledo.

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What they’re saying

“What we found out is the longer it takes to get things done, people get less interested in doing them.”

— Pete Gerken, Lucas County Commissioner

What’s next

The LCReady program is in the early stages of implementation, and the county and city will continue to work on developing their inventory of certified, development-ready sites to market to potential businesses.

The takeaway

By streamlining the site certification and development approval process, Lucas County and Toledo are taking proactive steps to improve their competitiveness for manufacturing, industrial, and commercial projects. This is a crucial effort to stem decades of population decline and economic stagnation in the region.