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Welcome to the second monthly Vibrant Northeast Ohio newsletter. We are excited to share more updates and news with you!
Our collaboration is growing...we are now working with over 110 different organizations throughout the 12 county region. Currently, this collaborative effort is focused on gathering and organizing pre-existing plans and solutions to support framing the project's vision.
Board Leadership...At our January annual meeting, a new slate of officers were selected to provide board leadership for 2012:
Jason Segedy Chair;
Dan Mamula, Vice Chair;
Steve Hambley, 2nd Vice Chair;
Howard Maier, Treasurer; and
Tom Tyrrell, Secretary.
Thank you to all of the 2011 Officers, particularly Steve Hambley who in his role as Chair provided great leadership in launching the initiative.
Issue Highlights
Please, feel free to forward this email on to others. To stay even more connected with NEOSCC, be sure to add us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn by clicking the links on the right! Send us any questions or suggestions! Thanks again for your continued support.
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How are we using land?
 As part of its planning initiative, the Northeast Ohio Sustainable Communities Consortium (NEOSCC) has completed the first-ever 12-county regional existing land use map. This parcel-based map relies on detailed real estate information provided by the region's 12 county auditors. Various Consortium members, led by Bob Nau of the Stark County Area Transportation Study and the Stark County Regional Planning Commission and Anthony Kobak of NEOSCC, developed this first ever collaborative GIS map. The resulting map is scalable to individual communities and counties and can be disaggregated to show in clear detail the location of specific land uses such as industrial, commercial, and park lands. Because it is based on current real estate data, the map also provides a real-time picture of vacant urbanized land throughout the region. The land use map and other similar regional planning tools are being developed for the NEOSCC planning process and the entire Northeast Ohio community.
Click here to open the land use map. |
Latest Consortium Expansion
The Northeast Ohio Sustainable Communities Consortium is excited to announce the newest members: Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority and Youngstown State University.
****** The NEOSCC staff would also like to welcome aboard their newest employee, Mark Barbash, who will be helping with the organization and operation of the Economic Development work stream.
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Engagement Update
This month, NEOSCC released its Vibrant Northeast Ohio engagement plan. Additionally, the staff has released a request for proposals from consulting firms in the area to help with further engagement planning and implementation. That RFP is available online at the NEOSCC.org or your can access it here. We would like to invite all of Northeast Ohio to be an integral part of the Vibrant Northeast Ohio initiative. The 12-county planning footprint contains diverse geographical, cultural, demographic and commercial stakeholders that constitute Northeast Ohio's unique strengths. It is in bringing this diversity together to design a vision in which they are vested, that a shared commitment can lead to action. The engagement process will solidify existing and cultivate new networks throughout the region to have a lasting impact on Northeast Ohio. If you are interested in reading the plan, a pdf if available here.
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Environments Presentation
At the kick-off meeting for the Environments Work Stream, Program Manager Joseph MacDonald, presented on the some of the environmental existing conditions in Northeast Ohio. You can view that entire presentation online by clicking here.
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Coming together to create a vibrant Northeast Ohio:
The Northeast Ohio Sustainable Communities Consortium (NEOSCC) is focused on advancing a quality, connected twelve-county region amidst today's economic climate and stretched resources.
Through a diverse group of member organizations and region-wide engagement, the NEOSCC will develop concrete plans while fostering collaboration and capacity for action.
The aim of all of these efforts is to create a vibrant and resilient Northeast Ohio that increases our quality of life; connects our communities; welcomes diversity; restores and protects our natural resources; and creates a competitive economic framework for the vitality of our region.
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Next NEOSCC
Board Meeting:
February 28, 2012
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Hudson Library
96 Library St.
Hudson, OH 44236
Northeast Ohio Sustainable Communities Consortium
146 South High Street CitiCenter, Suite 800 Akron, OH 44308 (330) 375-2949
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Open Opportunities:
Engagement Planning and Implementation Request for Proposal Responses due on 01/13/2012
The NEOSCC is a three-year planning program funded largely by a highly competitive, first of its kind, $4.25M federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of the new federal Sustainable Communities Initiative. The Sustainable Communities Initiative is an interagency collaboration among HUD, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The NEOSCC has also received a matching program grant of $500,000 from the Fund for our Economic Future. Its 31 consortium member organizations have pledged over $2.35 M of in-kind match in the form of staff time and operating expense contributions. |
Current Consortium
Membership
Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS)
Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority
Akron Urban League
Ashtabula County
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Youngstown
City of Akron
City of Cleveland
City of Elyria
City of Youngstown
Cleveland Metroparks
Cleveland Museum of Natural
History
Cleveland State University
Cuyahoga County
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority
Eastgate Regional Council of
Governments (Eastgate)
Fund for Our Economic Future
Greater Cleveland RTA
Lorain County Growth Partnership
Mahoning County
Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) (Fiscal Agent)
Northeast Ohio Community Development Alliance
Northeast Ohio Four County Regional Planning & Development Organization (NEFCO)
Policy Bridge
Regional Prosperity Initiative
Stark County
Stark County Regional Planning Commission/Stark County Area Transportation Study (RPC/SCATS)
Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority
Summit County
Summit County Health District
Trumbull County
Youngstown State University
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Work Stream Updates
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Economic Development Work Stream
"The goal of the Economic Development Workstream is to develop recommendations to support sustainable economic development in NE Ohio. By developing an understanding of the region wide and job center economic strengths and opportunities for NE Ohio (in partnership with key stakeholders in the region) the work stream will develop a set of options for 1) Change in policy at the local, state and federal levels; 2) mechanisms to support collaboration between the stakeholders in development, transportation, the environment, land use and the citizens; and 3) investment in key areas such as transportation, transit, housing, the environment, collaborative planning brownfield remediation that will position NE Ohio to be globally competitive."
Progress
Through January, 2012, the ED Workstream has completed a general review of economic trends in NE Ohio; identified areas of potential collaboration based upon best practices from within the region, and initiated the process of developing an economic development strategy for the NE Ohio region as a whole. Activities in the next five months will include the review of the first draft of the NEOhio economic development strategy being developed by JobsOhio and TeamNEO, identifying specific issue areas which will be the subject of Focus Group deliberation that will lead to a set of preliminary recommendations for the ED Committee and NEOSCC to consider. Much of the work is being done in collaboration with Cleveland State University, TeamNEO, and other key stakeholders in the region.
September 27, 2011 Meeting: Discussion of the Mission of the ED Committee in the context of NEOSCC; recommendations by members for issues to be considered; Presentation of economic trends in NE Ohio; Discussion on priorities by Committee Leadership
November 29, 2011 Meeting: Roundtable discussion on decision-making by MPOs, a best practice economic development cooperation agreement in Summit County, and the Wayne County economic development strategy that focuses on ag/bio, farmland preservation and reasonable land use recommendations. Consensus on specific Workstream activities.
February 9, 2012 Meeting: This meeting will complete the review of the ED Strategies for NE Ohio, areas within the region, and the alignment of those plans with the overall regional plan. Based upon this review, specific issue/opportunity priority areas will be established that will be the subject of Focus Group discussion and policy options to be presented to NEOSCC by early summer, at the latest.
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Environment Work Stream
Overview
"The Environments work stream seeks to deliver an actionable plan for the protection of significant natural resources in northeast Ohio. By integrating existing plans for air and water quality, sewer and water infrastructure, parks and recreation, and energy resources, policy recommendations can be given that foster true implementation at each level of government. The work stream will identify important connections between the environment, transportation, and land use strategies with achievable outcomes. This includes tasks such as reducing availability of undeveloped land while simultaneously facilitating compact, infill, mixed-use, and walkable development. The plan will also seek to increase public access to parks, trails, local food, and other recreational amenities. The implementation of other useful tools, like facility siting, will help to remediate environmental degradation and mitigate environmental impacts."
Progress
During meetings in November and January, the members of the Environments Work Stream identified and focused environmental themes and opportunities for connections to the other Work Streams (especially Connections, Strong Economic Base, and Housing & Communities). Overarching themes of the Environments Work Stream are air quality and water quality, which are both strongly influenced by land use. Key land use issues focus on conservation (parks & recreation, natural systems preservation, resource protection), agriculture (farmland preservation, local food production), and development (infrastructure, buildings, energy). The group has also begun to identify existing plans, data sets, and maps from a diverse array of organizations, including Metropolitan Planning Organizations, land conservancies, park districts, and agricultural research groups. The Project Manager (Joe MacDonald) will work with individual Work Stream members during the next few weeks to build a baseline of existing conditions data and outline the Existing Conditions & Current Trends Report, due in May. The Project Manager will also continue working with the Data Management Consultant Team to refine data needs from the Team (may be provided through resources outside the Work Stream Members and their respective organizations).
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Housing & Communities Work Stream
Overview
"The Housing and Communities work stream will recommend policies, practices, and priorities that are crafted to improve regional housing equity, access, and quality. Such suggestions will include energy-efficient, cost-saving alternatives to traditional solutions. The work stream will also value the individual communities and neighborhoods in northeast Ohio by promoting the growth of a healthy, safe, and walkable region."
Progress
The primary focus of the Housing & Communities Work Stream initial meetings has been on defining its role within the initiative and what additional perspectives need to be added to the group. The group's 34 members include representatives from Public Housing, City and County Governments, Policy and Advocacy Groups and Health Districts. Integrating the diverse expertise in the process will be a critical component to the housing and communities plans. In working towards the Existing Conditions and Trends/Issues Report, the committee is gathering Public Housing Agency Plans and HUD Consolidated Plans, among other plans throughout Northeast Ohio. At its January 31st meeting (which will also mark NEOSCC's first virtual gathering) the Work Stream focused on formalizing the group's data needs and identifying the guiding issues for the trends report. Its next meeting will be held on February 23.
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Connections Work Stream
Overview
"The Connections work stream will work to guide the development of goals and policies for future infrastructure investments that will balance the needs of all transportation system users in the region. The Connections team will also seek to find ways to optimize access to each mode of transportation in order to connect people to jobs and destinations, move goods and freight, and lower transportation costs for users. In achieving these goals, the Connections work stream plan will help to foster the ideals of the other work streams such as reducing environmental impact and promoting vibrant, inter-connected communities and neighborhoods."
Progress
During meetings in December and January, the members of the Connections Work Stream have defined the group's mission statement, and identified the work program's goals and outcomes. Utilizing the network of the group's 20 representatives, the Work Stream has collected the major regional transportation plans and along with other local plans. To facilitate the existing conditions and trends report, over the next month the group's four subcommittees will collect data and plans specific to the following subject areas:
- Transit systems and rail,
- Roadways, routes and interstates,
- Streets/parks/bike and pedestrian systems, and
- Connecting places.
Work Stream member, Joe Calabrese, General Manager of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority has contacted the other regional transit systems to set-up a meeting with the regional systems' general managers. This discussion will support the integration of the other systems into the Work Stream process.
Lastly, Project Manager, Kelley Britt has also been invited to participate in The Oberlin Project's transportation committee which has in turn brought more regional representation from Lorain County into the NEOSCC effort.
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Quality Connected Places Work Stream
Overview
"The Quality Connected Places work stream will primarily integrate and synthesizes the output of other work streams. The work stream will focus on supporting the region's existing communities by identifying their unique assets and by recommending changes to the policies and procedures that prevent Northeast Ohio from realizing its full potential as a globally competitive region.
The work stream will recommend policies that lower the combined housing and transportation costs facing the region's households (H+T Index). reduce social and economic disparities and increase the share of development taking place on already-serviced sites throughout the region.
The Quality Connected Places work stream will collaborate with the Consortium's other work streams to examine the long term future of the region, identify "alternative futures" and conduct scenario planning to analyze the impacts of these alternative on individual communities and the region as a whole."
Progress
The framework and membership for the Quality Connected Places Work Stream is currently being established. The committee is chaired by Jason Segedy of AMATS, Hunter Morrison of NEOSCC, with support from Kirby Date of Cleveland State University. |
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Data/GIS Work Stream
Coordinated with all of the MPO's staffs to create a consistent base map for land use across the 12 Counties.
The Data Management Consultant Team (DMCT), in consultation with the NEOSCC Data Integration Working Group (DIWG), and the Program Managers (PM), is developing a prioritized list of databases needed to address the questions and issues that the workstream committees are posing. Once those questions are finalized, the DMCT will document theses databases and write a report that enables NEOSCC to obtain the required data. The DMCT will also identify and describe alternative approaches to building a collaborative GIS framework for sharing and accessing data through GIS technology.
The DMCT produced an initial list of potential databases and is further developing it with the help of the others and the questions developed by the work stream committees. The DMCT will furnish examples of these data resources and will develop a preliminary list of secondary data (lower priority, or likely less reliable sources) and provide appropriate examples.
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Other Voices |
The Changing Face of Poverty in Northeast Ohio
Richey Piiparinen and Claudia Coulton
Support for this research comes from the George Gund Foundation of Cleveland
January 19, 2012
Revitalizing Distressed Older Suburbs
Kathryn W. Hexter, Edward W. Hill, Brian A. Mikelbank, Benjamin Y. Clark, Charles Post
What Works Collaborative and Cleveland State University Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs
Released online: December 07, 2011
While much has been written about the decline of central cities, very little research has examined the problem in their suburbs. This report focuses on the suburbs of older industrial cities and how best to address the challenges they face. Using census data, literature review, and four in-depth case studies, the authors provide a detailed portrait of the underlying forces shaping distressed suburbs. It highlights a range of best practices used in case study cities for fostering growth and reducing poverty. These lessons can be instructive both to local leaders working to turn their cities around and to the federal policy makers supporting them.
The True Wealth of Health: A Region Is Only As Healthy As Its Residents
by Randell McShepard & Gregory L. Brown
PolicyBridge
November 2011
It's not unusual these days to hear socioeconomic conditions described in terms befitting a patient in intensive care. The national economy is "ailing." The housing market remains chronically "sick." Big banks may or may not be "unhealthy." And whole communities are "dying." In early 2011, Newsweek even ranked the nation's 10 fastest-dying cities. Cleveland made the list.
These health-related metaphors are more than mere literary device. They underscore the important but often under appreciated link between economic well-being and physical well-being. Many fail to realize that, as the general health of a city's residents declines, health itself becomes an economic liability. A healthy workforce contributes immensely to the success and growth of local businesses and corporations through uninterrupted attendance and robust productivity. Conversely, poor health and chronic illnesses weigh heavily on employers, ultimately limiting their growth and significantly reducing their profit margins.
Innovative State and City Government Solutions to Watch in 2012
The Atlantic Cities
January 17, 2012
Although the Great Recession officially ended in June 2009, communities throughout the United States are still struggling to cope with the effects of the biggest economic downturn since the Great Depression. Unemployment is 8.6 percent, and income inequality is at its highest levels in decades. Despite incremental improvements over the course of 2011, metropolitan areas across America continue to suffer from sluggish hiring and lackluster growth.
As the nation inches toward economic recovery, it's become increasingly apparent that restoring prosperity is not just a matter of bouncing back and returning to business as usual. Business as usual is what got us here. Instead, we need to move toward a new economic growth model, a next economy that prizes production over consumption, true innovation over financial wizardry and long-term growth over short-term speculation.
Continue reading
Promising Strategies for Creating Healthy and Active Living Environments
Convergence Partnership
Promising Strategies for Creating Healthy Eating and Active Living Environments offers a comprehensive and cross-cutting review of policy, strategy, and program recommendations to realize this vision. Promising Strategies serves as a launch pad for further discussion, a catalyst to understand how specific efforts fit into a broader picture, and identifies areas for collaboration across sectors and fields.
To access the report |
Jeff Anderle, Manager of Communications & Engagement
Northeast Ohio Sustainable Communities Consortium
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