2021 ECONOMIC REPORT
Bluffton, Ohio
AT A GLANCE
The Village of Bluffton is a comfortable, family-oriented community of 4,200 residents. Rural by definition, it is suburban in feel with a walkable downtown that is packed with more than 60 shops, services, and restaurants.
Recreation and leisure attractions include the Bluffton Family Recreation center (indoor soccer, fitness center, gym, and studio) community pool, bowling alley, movie theater, campground, and golf course. The Bluffton University campus offers additional leisure and entertainment attractions.
Parks and lakes beautify the village and provide convenient recreation areas. This includes Motter Metro Park and the Bluffton University Nature Preserve. Eight of twelve miles of bike and pedestrian pathway have been completed.
JOBS
Bluffton provides a strong, supportive environment for employers large and small.
Between 2008 and 2018, jobs within the village limits increased by 48%.
MAJOR EMPLOYERS
Bluffton Exempted Village School District
EDUCATION
BLUFFTON EXEMPTED VILLAGE SCHOOLS
Serves 2,622 Households 2018-2019
OHIO REPORT CARD
Graduation Rate A
Gap Closing A
2018 NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL
Bluffton Elementary
Phase one of the Austin E. Knowlton Science Center will create teaching labs for nutrition and dietetics, chemistry and biology. The $10 million facility is expected to open in time for the 2023 academic year.
HOSPITAL & AIRPORT
BLUFFTON HOSPITAL
$13M surgical expansion and renovation completed in 2012 and 2017. Short-term acute care facility with 24-hour ER, outpatient surgery, and diagnostic services.
A Blanchard Valley Health System hospital.
BLUFFTON AIRPORT
$1M taxiway upgrade beginning 2021. LifeFlight helicopter base, flight training, corporate and recreational flights.
Owned by the Village of Bluffton and managed by Bluffton Flying Service.
LEISURE
Since 2014, $500K has been invested in the Bluffton bike and pedestrian pathway, which has a 12-mile master plan circling the village.
When expanded, US Bike Route 25 and US Bike Route 44 will bring riders through Bluffton.
Bluffton established the non-profit Bluffton Family Recreation Center in 1978. The expanded facility includes an indoor soccer arena with walking track.
Village of Bluffton parks provide fields for baseball, softball, and soccer competitions.
In or near the village: movie theater, bowling alley, and golf course.
DEVELOPMENT
In 2020, the Village of Bluffton issued 80 building permits:
Residential: $3.45M
Commerical/Industrial: $1.01M
Recent development: $10M GROB Systems building project in 2018.
