Union County, OH
People love Union County. So many enjoy life here because of the close-knit feel, small-town character, and good schools. Many lifelong residents can’t imagine living anywhere else. And new residents keep pouring in. In fact, Union County is one of the fastest growing counties in all of Ohio.
Yet amid all the growth, concerns are growing too. People are wondering—indeed, some are concerned—about where the county is headed. Union County has worked hard to preserve its natural beauty and neighborly connections over the past decades. But how can Union County continue growing while preserving the things that people value? How will growth affect different communities and people?
Union County is quickly facing a fundamental choice: Will people wake up one day to find a community they no longer recognize, or will they shape their own future?
As a down payment on this work, in 2022 Honda asked The Harwood Institute to identify key areas for strengthening the community’s civic culture and developing a shared purpose. The resulting report, published in November 2023 and titled Moving Forward in Union County: Forging a Shared Path, presents what The Harwood Institute found.
Following the report’s publication, the United Way of Union County stepped forward to steward a second phase of work in the community, which kicked off in early 2024 with a Getting Started Lab. Coming out of this initial lab, action teams formed around priority areas identified in the report—Arts, Health, and Youth. A second lab, Unleashing Impact, will be held in fall 2024. Ongoing coaching and workspaces will take place throughout 2024 and 2025.
