Butler County and several local municipalities have joined forces to develop a plan to maximize future return on economic investments.

The study — funded with a $100,000 state grant — will take place in 2013 and involve county government, Butler County Port Authority, Hamilton, Middletown, Trenton, West Chester Twp., Liberty Twp., the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and the County Commissioners Association of Ohio, according to Mike Campbell, port authority executive director.

“The ultimate goal is to develop a more systematic approach to development and infrastructure for the entire county,” Campbell said. “Working better together will hopefully help leverage more funding for lasting economic development.”

There will be no cost to the entities participating, just the need to provide data to those developing the plan.

Members of academia at Kent State, Miami University Bowling Green and Cleveland State will give the data a fresh, objective look.

The facilitator for the project is Sourcing Office in Cleveland, a statewide council of governments.

“We will be collecting data, studying it and creating a collaborative picture across the county to help optimise local developments,” said Don Iannone, executive director of Sourcing Office.

Sourcing Office serves more than 400 members and affiliates through group purchasing, shared service arrangements and fundraising and consulting services to local government agencies, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations.