Why One Local Left, but Moved Back to Licking County

Michelle Newman

Licking County, Ohio, grabbed national headlines when Intel announced it would make a $20 billion investment in a tech campus for chip manufacturing and create thousands of job opportunities. Since then, job seekers, searching for both a career and homey feel, are looking to live in Licking County. 

Area native Hayley Feightner, assistant director of GROW Licking County Community Improvement Corp., says she didn’t always equate her hometown with opportunity in her youth. “In the process of deciding my next steps after high school graduation, I remember visualizing ‘opportunity’ as a place existing far away from my hometown,” she says. 

So, after completing her undergraduate degree in Dayton and her master’s in Columbus, Feightner says she moved to Oregon to see if the West Coast was where she wanted to put down roots. 

“While I loved Oregon and met so many incredible people during my time there, I quickly realized that my sense of place was firmly rooted in Central Ohio – and in Licking County, specifically,” she says. 

Here’s what Feightner says about the process of getting reacquainted to her hometown. 

STEP ONE: Get Connected 

Feightner says she initially experienced some trepidation about her decision to return back home and live in Licking County. 

“One of the most significant uncertainties I had in moving back to the area was how I was going to integrate myself into the community,” she says. “Moving back felt like starting over in a way. I had questioned whether I would find community and purpose again in the place I used to call home.” 

Fortunately, Feightner says her fears were unfounded. She was welcomed back and connected with other like-minded young adults who plugged her into networking opportunities. 

“The Young Leaders of Licking County affiliate of the Licking County Chamber of Commerce was instrumental in connecting me to this network of community-centric professionals in my age group,” she says. 

Now, Feightner is part of Licking County’s cheer squad, advocating for other companies and workers to locate in the area. GROW Licking County is a nonprofit, public-private partnership that serves as the lead economic development organization for Licking County. 

STEP TWO: Make a Career Move 

Economic mobility isn’t just for those applying to one of those new positions. The region’s private-sector companies and public organizations offer flexibility when choosing to live in Licking County. 

“The idea of working for this community excited me because I wanted to work in a place where partnership and collaboration were the drivers of progress,” Feightner says. “Licking County has provided more opportunity for my professional advancement than I ever could have imagined because of the network of neighbors that are dedicated to building future leaders of the community.” 

Feightner adds that there is no better time to seek career opportunities in Licking County. 

“From corporate headquarter positions to manufacturing to professional services, education, government and health care – having a growing community means that talent is needed everywhere across industry sectors,” she says. 

Joining Intel, major employers in the region include Amazon, Owens Corning, Licking Memorial Health Systems and Denison University. 

STEP THREE: Work Hard, Play Hard 

The region’s assets, Feightner says, work in her favor when convincing other people to relocate and live in Licking County. 

“I love spending time in historic places – from landmark sites and natural areas to preserved and adaptive-reuse buildings,” she says. “In Licking County, we have a number of historic wonders that I like to visit frequently, such as the Great Circle Earthworks and Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve.” 

Pet owners will have no problem making the four-legged members of their family happy, either. “With three dogs, I also love our network of trails across the county we can explore,” Feightner says. 

For a newcomer to Licking County, Feightner’s best advice is to be vulnerable and genuine in seeking new connections. “Tell people what you care about, ask questions, attend events that appeal to you, and you will find your own sense of community,” she says. 

Whether a newcomer, who is getting a lay of the land, or a longtime resident beaming with community pride, Licking County hosts festivals that celebrate the region’s history and culture, including the Downtown Newark Food Truck Festival, The Hartford Fair and the Granville Fourth of July Celebration. 

She invites “boomerang” residents – those who grew up in the area, moved away and are considering a return – to embrace their homecoming. “Use the skills, talents and experiences you gained living away, and become an active participant in helping to shape our community’s future,” she says.