The first half of the seventies was characterised by the incorporation of eleven municipalities which were previously independent. Due to this important development, the population increased from approximately 33,000 to in excess of 50,000. The amalgamation of the suburbs was favoured by the "Offenburg Model" which provided the suburbs with far reaching rights in a suburb constitution and promised investments which currently amount to more than 100 million Marks.
The town as a whole received important local subdistricts as a result of the incorporation, the use of which having a continuos positive effect on the commercial development of Offenburg. Prior to this, the town was especially characterised by the Burda media group but now other companies gained in importance. Just to name a few: the tesa factory Beiersdorf [adhesive tape], the renowned supplier for industrial kitchens, Hobart and Meiko, Bosch Telekom, hansgrohe as a manufacturer of sanitarytechnical products and the famous confectionery specialist, Vivil. Alone the fact that Offenburg has in excess of 40,000 workplaces on offer with a population of 58,000 makes the regional importance of Offenburg as a commercial location clearly discernible. Offenburg is also known as a fair town far across the regional borders. With 500,000 visitors per year, the exhibition halls on Kinzigdamm is one of the largest exhibition venues in BadenWürttemberg.
As a consequence, a resolution was passed by the Land government in 1996 to the effect that Offenburg was to be designated the latest superior centre of BadenWürttemberg, this also enabling it to remain a partner of the neighbouring European town, Strasbourg. With the laying of a foundation stone for its new media centre in 1998, Burda has also signalised that it sees Offenburg as an innovative location with a future.
In addition to the commercial development, emphasis was placed over the past decades in rehabilitating and redeveloping the town centre into an attractive shopping centre and to the centre of numerous cultural events and celebrations. In addition, the local events were dominated by other subjects: the reduction of traffic with the extension of the pedestrian precinct and the construction of multistorey carparks, the promotion of dwellings close to the town centre in the Kinzig suburb, the preservation of protected building substances and the designation of new building areas.
In 1990 Offenburg began with the realisation of the new suburb, Kreuzschlag in the western part of the town. Today, in excess of 2000 people live in apartments and terraced houses which have been planned in an exemplary manner, connected to the public transport network and integrated into the social and culture events which the town has to offer. The town was provided with an additional important chance to develop after the French armed forces withdrew. The conversion began in 1991, enabling areas and buildings which were previously put to military use to be used for civil purposes. An excellent example of this is the barracks on the Weingartenstraße. Erected in 1891 as a imperial barracks, the protected building was rehabilitated and converted into an impressive "Kulturforum Offenburg" [Offenburg Culture Forum] which is amongst others home to the town library, the school of music, the school of art and the adult education centre. Furthermore, attractive dwellings were erected on what used to be the barracks area. Where French tanks used to participate in exercises there is now a "Platz der Verfassungsfreunde" which invites one to meet and rest.
Due to the development over the past decades and its advantageous geographical position on the Upper Rhine, Offenburg is well equipped for the demands which a joining together of Europe brings with it. For many years the town has attempted to enter into friendly relationships with other European towns. Through twinning, Offenburg is connected to Lons-le-Saunier in France, Weiz in Austria, Borehamwood in England, Altenburg in what used to be the GDR and Allenstein in Poland.
