Restoring Prosperity
The Greater Ohio Policy Center Blog
With the severity of the fiscal challenges being felt at the state and local level, Greater Ohio sees this as an opportune time for the State to better target scarce resources and strategically invest in our communities. We want your feedback. Where have you seen that done well at the state or local level in your community? This is an opportunity to share your best practice examples and allow you to learn from your peers in other areas of the state.
Greater Ohio is unveiling its new Restoring Prosperity Partnership Network.
Greater Ohio has heard the need for better and increased forms of communications. Our intention is to use the Restoring Prosperity Partnership Network in new, innovative ways to keep a more constant flow of communication going. We are currently investigating which methods of communication will work best. If you have any ideas or suggestions on this topic, please email Katherine or leave a comment here on the blog.
To join the Restoring Prosperity Partnership Network, please email our Outreach Coordinator, Katherine Buckingham, at kbuckingham[AT]greaterohio[DOT]org
Read the third installment of the Kaid Benefield’s three part series which highlights the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio. Revitalizing Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine, national model in the making (Part 3: making impressive progress)
A recent Brookings article by Rebecca Wilder, Brookings on regional economic performance, offers people the ability to track the recession and recovery (likely a year after the recession ends) across America's 100 largest metropolitan areas using the MetroMonitor. Here are some of their findings to date:
A few metropolitan areas are beginning to showing signs of economic recovery, although none has completely recovered. McAllen is the only metropolitan area that saw growth in both employment and output during the first quarter of 2009. Employment also rose in New Haven and Baton Rouge, while output also increased in Seattle, Austin, Virginia Beach, Washington, Richmond, San Jose, and Riverside. Still, none of these metro areas has yet returned to its pre-recession levels of employment or output.
The article continues to discuss distinct "belts" across the country and concentrations of different industries.
For all of you who have a vested interest in the Great Lakes area, which bascially pertains to all Ohioans, an interesting Summit is set to occur in Buffalo, NY tomorrow to discuss new opportunities to create Great Lake Metros. The Great Lakes Metros and the New Opportunity Summit:Remaking Policy and Practice in a Time of Transformation, will discuss best practices in the implementation of the Obama stimulus, the prospects of regional planning and metropolitan governance, and the development of a sustainable and equitable economy in Great Lakes metro regions. There will be over 50 panelists from 10 major cities in the Great Lakes Area and it should prove to be an engaging experience. The discussion around creating metro areas that work together is an important one and Ohio needs to make sure they are involved in what is happening. We live in a regional economy and until Ohioans recognize this and cities, counties and townships need to work together if we want to grow the economy.
Contact: Dawn Larzelere
614.258-6200 x22
Columbus, Ohio (June 16, 2009) – Greater Ohio, the state’s “smart growth” organization, is pleased to announce several key hires to expand its policy expertise and meet new opportunities.
Dawn Larzelere, a veteran policy professional with experience working in various roles for three Ohio governors, has been named Policy Director. She brings to Greater Ohio her capacity for policy development and lobbying in federal and state government, and strategic relationship-building across the state and country. Prior to joining Greater Ohio, she was the Legislative Director for the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, and has also served as the Executive Assistant for Business and Industry for Governor Bob Taft and Manager of the Governor’s Regional Economic Development Offices. Dawn graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism.
Katherine Buckingham has been promoted from Research Associate to Outreach Coordinator. Katherine replaces Ann Seller, who successfully spearheaded Greater Ohio’s outreach work to reach out to and revitalize Ohio communities. Ann is leaving Greater Ohio to attend law school at the University of Virginia. Katherine graduated from Oberlin College, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Politics with an International Studies Concentration. She also gained local Ohio experience through an internship with Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune.
Zachary Crafton has been hired as a Research Associate. Zachary received his Bachelor’s Degree in Geography, with a dual emphasis on urban and environmental issues, from Ohio University and his Master’s Degree in Geography from the University of Toronto, with a focus on urban geographic issues.
“These new hires bring diverse and multi-faceted strengths and backgrounds to the Greater Ohio team, and uphold our continued commitment to remain non-partisan,” stated Gene Krebs, Co-Director.
“The experience and education of these three staff members enhance our team and strategically position Greater Ohio to take full advantage of unprecedented opportunities for advancing the Restoring Prosperity to Ohio Initiative and state reform policies,” said Lavea Brachman, Co-Director.
Greater Ohio, the state’s smart growth organization, promotes – through research, public education and grassroots advocacy – public policy to grow Ohio’s economy and improve the state’s quality of life through intelligent land use. Toward this end, Greater Ohio works to advance policies and programs that revitalize urban and metropolitan areas, strengthen regional cooperation, and protect Ohio’s natural resources. We are non-partisan, non-profit, and foundation-funded. We currently have an opening for a Communications Specialist.
Job Duties:
Develops and maintains relationships with media outlets throughout Ohio to promote Greater Ohio’s programs and policies; coordinates and assists in conducting public relations efforts through various media; serves as primary media contact and resource for individuals and groups seeking information from Greater Ohio; reviews media coverage; forms short and long-term media strategies for Greater Ohio.
Plans and directs all copy for educational material for Greater Ohio; creates and disseminates educational material to the public and partners to promote Greater Ohio’s programs; works with the media to establish Greater Ohio as a leader in smart growth and reinforces our brand and strategic priorities; manages the design and on-going maintenance of Greater Ohio’s website and blog.
Advises and consults with staff regarding public relations strategies; serves as resource person for information on positive public presentation of Greater Ohio’s programs and activities; performs other duties as assigned.
Preferred Skills:
Excellent writing ability is a must as well as a proven ability to write press releases, newsletters, blog entries and business correspondence; k nowledge of public relations, journalism, and communications techniques; expertise with viral media and knowledge of Creative Suites and Dreamweaver; ability and desire to work in a team-based environment. Knowledge of a range of smart growth issues is a plus, as is a personal commitment to sustainable development.
Minimum Qualifications:
Completion of undergraduate core program in journalism or communications and 2 - 3 years experience in media communication techniques and relations, including news writing, reporting, technical report translation.
Pay is dependent on experience, and will be in the range of other non-profits based in Columbus. Hours are expected to be full time, and benefits are offered. Travel is minimal. Please respond with resume, no more than three writing samples and cover letter by July 1 st to Dawn Larzelere, Policy Director of Greater Ohio at dlarzelere@greaterohio.org.
Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives Armond Budish has appointed Greater Ohio to serve on and provide staff support to the Compact with Cities Task Force which is tasked with assisting the state in forging a “competitive communities” strategy.
The Restoring Prosperity to Cleveland Mini-Summit, the first in a series of Greater Ohio’s Restoring Prosperity regional convenings to take place around the state, was held this week, providing participants an opportunity to discuss local efforts and examine alignment of the Cleveland urban revitalization agenda with state reforms . With over 400 registrants, this successful Mini-Summit signaled an overwhelming appetite for a new way of doing business in Ohio and exemplified Cleveland’s capacity for innovation.
The Cleveland Mini-Summit builds on the momentum and success of the Brookings/Greater Ohio Restoring Prosperity to Ohio Summit held last fall, which launched the Restoring Prosperity to Ohio Initiative and unveiled a state reform agenda. Plenary speakers Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, Ohio House Speaker Armond Budish and Mayor Frank Jackson joined key corporate, civic, political, academic and philanthropic leaders from the Cleveland area to focus on a renewed commitment to the Restoring Prosperity to Ohio agenda.
Lavea Brachman, Co-Director, Greater Ohio & Non-Resident Brookings Institution Senior Fellow kicked off the Summit:
Bruce Katz , Vice President & Director Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution provided the national perspective and outlined a path for recovery and renewal in Cleveland and the state, asserting that this is the moment to take advantage of federal involvement and funds so the state, Cleveland, and the rest of Ohio’s communities need to be ready to leverage these federal initiatives. In particularly, this means using the unprecedented source of federal stimulus funds in a strategic, targeted way, instead of spreading money around the state like peanut butter. He also reiterated the need to:
Read and/or listen to media coverage about the Cleveland Summit:
Cuyahoga County Planning Commission Blog
Great Lakes Urban Exchange Blog
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Photos by John Quinn
Read the second installment of the Kaid Benefield's three part series which highlights the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio. Revitalizing Over-the-Rhine (Part 2: building on the neighborhood’s assets)
