City of Wilmington & Clinton County Port Authority Secure Additional $175,000 for Davids Drive Phase III

Davids Drive

WILMINGTON, Ohio (July 8, 2025)—The City of Wilmington, in collaboration with the Clinton County Port Authority (Port Authority), has been awarded an additional $175,000 in funding from the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Jobs & Commerce Economic Development Grant Program to support Phase III of the Davids Drive reconstruction project.

This most recent grant award builds upon ongoing efforts to upgrade and modernize this critical industrial corridor that serves several major employers and manufacturers in both the City of Wilmington and Union Township.

“Davids Drive is an important industrial corridor and connector for Wilmington,” said Wilmington Mayor Pat Haley. “This additional funding allows us to continue enhancing the infrastructure that supports our growing business community. I express my appreciation to the Port Authority for their ongoing partnership with my administration on the City’s initiatives.”

As part of the successful grant application, the Port Authority coordinated with the City of Wilmington, and private employers along Davids Drive to document the number of jobs positively impacted by the roadway improvements. A recent and substantial private investment from Alkermes, despite the firm not being within the City’s boundaries, was a key component in demonstrating the project’s economic return and securing the award. The Jobs & Commerce Program exists to support infrastructure improvements that directly enhance job creation and private investment.

“This grant is another example of how we are working diligently to reduce the burden on local taxpayers by leveraging external resources,” said Wilmington City Auditor Mary Kay Vance. “Every dollar we secure from the state helps us stretch our local dollars further.”

The funding will support Phase III of the Davids Drive project, which will continue eastward improvements from Fife Avenue to Rombach Avenue. The enhancements will include full-depth pavement reconstruction, lane widening, drainage improvements, and upgraded traffic signage— continuing the transformation of the corridor into a more functional, safer, and business-ready roadway.

“The Port Authority’s mission is to serve as a vehicle for economic development and investment into Clinton County,” said Clinton County Port Authority Executive Director Alex Beres. “Public and private investment can, sometimes with the right nudge, compound and become a virtuous cycle, where private investment lures public investment, which then incentivizes additional private investment.”

To date, the Clinton County Port Authority has assisted in securing $1.575 million in total funding to support the multi-phase reconstruction of Davids Drive—an investment that strengthens the region’s logistics, manufacturing, and life sciences sectors.

About the Clinton County Port Authority

The Clinton County Port Authority is a special purpose government formed to operate transportation infrastructure and lead economic development efforts. Designated by Clinton County, the City of Wilmington, and the CIC of Wilmington as the lead Economic Development agency for the County, it coordinates with the Dayton Development Coalition and JobsOhio to attract jobs to, and retain jobs in, the area. It has been voted a Best Workplace for the last six years. The Port Authority owns and operates the Wilmington Air Park, an integrated aviation and logistics business park located on 1,900 acres with nearly three million square feet of industrial, office and hangar space. It is the highest volume cargo airport in Ohio and ranked 23rd in the United States and was named Best Airport in Ohio in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Learn more at

www.ChooseClintonCountyOH.org and www.WilmingtonAirPark.com.

Article Submitted by the Clinton County Port Authority