Rain can't stop economic growth

HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio (WDTN) - The Heights, located at State Route 201 and Interstate-70, is expected to generate millions of dollars annually and bring hundreds of permanent jobs to the area.

The cornerstone of the project, the Kroger Aquatic Center opened earlier this summer.

Now, another piece of that development is finally up and running, the new $1 million Eichelberger Amphitheater.

A concert was supposed to kickoff the unveiling of the amphitheater Saturday night but the rain forced it's cancelation.

People who showed up before the storms rolled through, say they're excited about the growth in the area.

"Huber Heights is a great place to live and it's getting better," says Huber Heights Mayor Ron Fisher.

He's excited about the city's newest additions to The Heights project.

"We opened our aquatic park this year and exceeded our membership or attendance in that.  Eichelberger Theater and that are going to give us a whole new item that we can have concerts here, more things for people, more things in the city of Huber Heights for people to do," explains Mayor Fisher.

He says there are even more things on the horizon, some of which he isn't able to share yet.

"We've got our business district down here near Interstate-70. We're pushing really hard to develop that with some nice hotels and some upscale shopping, restaurants and those sort of things but they are in the beginning marketing stages," comments Mayor Fisher.

And the economic growth is receiving praise from people in the community.

"I think it's just great for the area.  I think that this will bring more people in and I think that as citizens we need to support this and come out.  I think this is just great," says June Mahaffy.

The concert is rescheduled for next Saturday, September 8th at 8 P.M.

There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at the amphitheater on Monday at 12:30 P.M. Members of the Ohio State Band, including some Wayne High School grads, will play after that official unveiling.