Scorecard helps position Aurora for smart growth

Working in economic development, it is normal to go through large and small strategic planning efforts regularly to make sure that the goals of our organization align with the goals of the community when it comes to future growth.  
Our most recent strategic plan began in early 2025 and we continue to have dedicated committees that meet regularly to carry out our initiatives. One of our committees recently created a project scorecard, which will be used internally to analyze projects that come to Hamilton County.  
Assessing the benefits that a project brings to our area has always been a focus of the Aurora Development Corporation, so the scorecard is formally tracking aspects we have already considered with new projects. The areas that the scorecard specifically covers includes project basics, utility and infrastructure requirements, local business and supply chain impacts, strategic alignment with community goals, incentives and financial considerations, community impact and risks, and community benefits. With this information documented, it will help current and future board members understand a project fully and communicate that information with others.
Once the committee had the scorecard finalized, the next step was to take inventory on what the community of Aurora and greater Hamilton County have to offer. Why would a business, or an individual for that matter, want to locate here and how can we document that information with data.  As a committee we were easily able to list 17 different benefits of locating in the Aurora area, so I will summarize four of our top reasons.  
There is a strong agriculture presence here with 312,294 acres of corn crop farm ground in Hamilton County. That number increases to 1.3 million acres in an eight-county radius. In 2025 Hamilton County was the third highest in corn production just behind York and Hall counties. We have strong agriculture business representation with businesses like the Aurora Cooperative, KAAPA Ethanol, Beck’s corn seed production facility, Specialty Ag Formulations and many more.    
Aurora has a business-friendly regulatory environment, which extends to building and zoning permits. Both processes include minimal paperwork and nominal fees when compared to larger cities. There is also a straightforward collaboration and approvement process when working with city officials to navigate the permitting process.  
There are commercial and residential shovel-ready sites for development. The Mission Critical site south of Aurora has 20 acres of shovel-ready lots that have streets, water, sewer, storm sewer and natural gas already developed and zoned for commercial and light industrial development.    There are also more than 40 residential lots ready for development on the west and north sides of Aurora.  
Aurora continues to offer low tax rates to businesses and residents. On average our community has 20 percent lower property tax rates compared to neighboring counties and with no city sales tax, purchases made at local businesses are taxed less than they are when shopping in nearby communities.  
Together, these strengths position Aurora and Hamilton County for thoughtful, sustainable growth. By pairing data-driven decision-making with the natural advantages of our community, we are ensuring that each new opportunity aligns with our long-term vision. Our goal is not just growth for the sake of growth, but growth that strengthens our local economy, supports our residents, and builds on the foundation that already makes Aurora a great place to live, work, and do business.
 KELSEY BERGEN serves as executive director of the Aurora Development Corporation. She can be reached at kelsey@growaurora.com