Field Notes is a series of TIP Strategies interviews with leaders across the country exploring pressing economic, workforce, and community development issues.

In 2014, Chester County, Pennsylvania, leaders launched VISTA 2025 to chart a long-range economic development strategy that could guide the county’s growth while preserving the history and landscapes that define it. This public-private initiative, developed with TIP Strategies, brought together business, civic, legislative, academic, and community leaders, and involved hundreds of hours of discussion and planning, research, data collection and analysis, focus groups, and a community questionnaire. The resulting 10-year framework was built around quality of place, workforce readiness, business growth, innovation, and infrastructure goals that reflected both short-term opportunities and a long-range vision for positioning the county. Although the plan anticipated ambitious ideas, it could not foresee the sweeping disruptions of the 2020 pandemic and the shifts in how people live, work, and learn, which challenged Chester County leaders to think differently. We recently connected with President & COO Mike Grigalonis at Chester County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) to hear about the progress made over the past decade.

Q1. How has the overall economic health of Chester County improved over the last 10 years?

Chester County remains an advantageous place to live and work. The county’s population has seen a notable increase of nearly 48,000 residents over the past decade, growing from 512,776 in 2014 to 560,745 in 2024. Lower unemployment compared to surrounding counties and regions; access to highly ranked K-12 and higher education offerings; the retention, growth, and attraction of businesses; and quality of life are all contributing factors. This population growth has resulted in an exceptionally talented workforce, with 54 percent of the county’s residents holding at least a bachelor’s degree.

As regional, state, federal, and global economic conditions have shifted in recent years, Chester County has adjusted its tax structure to maintain and improve services, allowing it to remain one of Pennsylvania’s most desirable communities—offering a high quality of life, strong schools, robust business and entrepreneurial growth, diverse recreational and cultural opportunities, and a talented workforce. The county continues to be the wealthiest of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties and the only AAA bond-rated county in the Commonwealth.

Q2. What makes CCEDC so successful as an economic development organization?

Three key elements make the CCEDC a uniquely successful entity:

• We are a private nonprofit guided by a board of results-focused business leaders. Our public sector partners are at the table alongside us but not at the head. This structure provides us the independence and flexibility to address economic development programs that best meet the needs of businesses, communities, and innovators in an efficient way that delivers impact.
• Our team is comprised of passionate, creative solution-providers who think and act as entrepreneurs. As a private nonprofit, we attract talented professionals who develop and deliver successful outcomes, adapt to new conditions, and launch programs as market conditions evolve.
• We’ve embraced an approach that is rooted in partnerships, positioning the CCEDC as a resource for others. As a result, CCEDC is known for not just leading projects, but for collaborating with others to deliver beneficial outcomes for businesses and communities across the county and beyond. Because CCEDC has embraced regionalism, opportunities have emerged to fund new programs that benefit Chester County and the surrounding area.

Q3. What big wins has CCEDC achieved during the implementation of VISTA 2025?

There are more than 40 notable accomplishments attributable to the VISTA 2025 initiative, and here are just a few:

• VISTA.Today is a daily digital platform showcasing the “good news” stories of Chester County from all aspects of commerce, culture, and community. Launched in 2015, this novel approach to storytelling has grown steadily, and the model has expanded to four surrounding southeastern Pennsylvania counties—Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia—each replicating the success of Chester County’s platform.
• The county continues to embrace open space preservation and to recognize it as integral to economic success. Currently, 32 percent of Chester County’s total land has been preserved, amounting to over 235 square miles (151,000 acres)—an area larger than Philadelphia County (134 square miles).
• CCEDC has built a robust portfolio of services for startups and small businesses. Highlights include the creation of a $22 million revolving loan fund, a microgrant program targeted to historically disadvantaged businesses, the formation of a new Certified Development Finance Institute (CDFI), a pitch competition for tech startups, and the recent launch of an angel investment group.
• In 2022, the county established the Chester County Trails Master Plan, with the goal of creating an interconnected, multi-use trail network.
• The Chester County Planning Commission established the Commercial Landscapes Task Force to examine the challenges facing four commercial real estate categories: office parks, brownfields, greyfields, and transit-oriented development. Reports on each topic have been produced that offer recommendations and guidance to local governments and developers about how to address the changing market realities impacting the future of commercial real estate in the county.
• CCEDC and Chester County partnered to reinvigorate the AgConnect program that serves the county’s top industry—agriculture. A new strategic plan for agriculture was adopted that created four actions teams focused on workforce development, public engagement, financing initiatives, and Chester County-specific programming.

Q4. What new economic development partnerships in the county/region have formed since the release of VISTA 2025?

Led by the work of the CCEDC, Chester County is known for its spirit of coordination and collaboration. Examples of partnerships resulting from VISTA 2025 include:

• Chester County and Coatesville Area Partners for Progress funded a new Economic Development Administrator role as part of a 2nd Century Alliance initiative to support Coatesville’s economic development planning/opportunities.
• Organized and implemented by the County Workforce Development team and CCEDC, a Workforce Summit was held in October 2015, bringing together 110 business, academic, civic, community, and workforce development leaders focused on enhancing the critical links between educators and employers in the ongoing efforts to maintain and grow the Chester County workforce. The summit identified nine action items that have guided efforts over the subsequent years and range from developing internship programs to addressing transportation challenges and improving access to affordable housing. A second summit hosted in 2022 addressed approaches to trends resulting from the pandemic.
• Activities to engage the next generation of workforce talent have produced notable outcomes, including the expansion of the Girls Exploring Tomorrow’s Technology annual conference, the creation and implementation of the What’s So Cool About Manufacturing? student video contest program, summer career academies, afterschool programs, Circuit Days, Techies Day, and career fairs. Combined, these initiatives have reached more than 33,000 students through hands on learning and introductions to a wider range of quality career and job opportunities.
• Efforts to expand outreach and build connections with employers through new workforce initiatives across the county have produced year-over-year increases. More than 1,000 employers annually engaged in CCEDC’s Industry Partnerships (IPs), linking more Chester County workers with support services and job opportunities. These IPs are focused on the priority areas important to the county, including agriculture, manufacturing, information technology, energy, and healthcare.
• Through the CCEDC’s efforts to support emerging tech companies in Chester County, several programs have launched or been expanded, including the Innovative Technology Action Group and the Ideas x Innovation Network (i2n). Through these efforts, 54 companies to date received more than $9.5 million in Keystone Innovation Zone tax credits, and more than 50 startup companies annually (500+ overall) have accessed various services offered by i2n, including advice and coaching, strategic connections, workspace solutions support, and access to funding options.
• A Made in Coatesville business incubator was established in downtown Coatesville. The incubator has been fully occupied from the date of its launch and has graduated several successful businesses.
• A $22 million revolving loan fund was capitalized by CCEDC in 2022 with support from neighboring economic development organizations in eight counties. In the two years since program inception, 75 loans have been closed with 92 percent made to socially and economic disadvantaged individuals (SEDI) and the businesses they own.

Q5. What goals do you want to achieve over the next 10 years in Chester County?

As business, civic, academic, and community leaders across Chester County reflect on VISTA 2025’s accomplishments, we’re focused on carrying that momentum forward. Working with the Chester County Commissioners and other partners, the CCEDC is helping to shape a renewed ten-year strategic plan that builds on the successful implementation of VISTA 2025 and continues to guide the county’s economic health and prosperity.

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Michael served as the Chester County Economic Development Council’s Chief Operating Officer since 2004 and was promoted to President in 2023. In that role, he is responsible for managing CCEDC’s $6 million operating budget and a staff of 44. Michael works closely with the CCEDC’s management team to implement a diverse portfolio of programs and services in four key areas: financing, workforce development, real estate, and innovation/entrepreneurship. He is also COO for Seedcopa, one of the largest SBA-certified development companies in the Mid-Atlantic region, and the Assistant Director of three Industrial Development Authorities.

In addition, Michael is an active regional and statewide leader serving as the Southeastern PA’s coordinator for the six-county PREP and Engage! Programs. Michael is also a Past President of PEDA. He currently serves on the Board of the United Way of Chester County and is the Chair of the Board of CCRES (Chester County Regional Educational Services).

Michael earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Ithaca College in 1995 and an MBA from Villanova University in 1998.