Independence is a suburban community in the Cleveland region. While the city is mostly residential, four business districts, developed during a period of regional growth and suburban expansion, ensured a long period of fiscal health and enviable quality-of-life. As these areas have begun to show their age and face growing competition for business in a struggling region, planning NEXT helped the city create an Economic Development Strategic Plan to reassess its approach to economic development. With planning NEXT’s help, the city is now implementing the strategic plan by creating Area Plans to improve the competitiveness and viability of the city’s non-residential districts and, in so-doing strengthen the city’s quality-of-life.