Ohio is facing tough economic times. Not only is it coping with the national economic downturn, it is also grappling with the loss of its manufacturing jobs. Also, Ohio is dealing with its long history of sprawl as residents continued to move further out from the city centers. Not only does this wear on the infrastructure but it also costs individuals as gas prices rise. One possibility that may help to reduce the impact of the economic downturn on workers and companies is Virtual Employment. If workers can work from home then they can save money in commuting costs and employers can save on overhead costs. The Source Newsletter is embarking on a series about this new phenomenon called "Recruiting from the Middle of Nowhere." Not only does the blog aptly describe the benefits and drawbacks of the Virtual Workplace it also leads to the fundamental questions....Is this what Ohio really needs to revitalize or is it just a band-aid that is covering more fundamental problems?
Light Rail in Columbus, Ohio?
Are you curious about the status of light rail in Ohio? Bill Lhota, the President and CEO at COTA (Central Ohio Transit Authority) discusses the new light rail proposal between OSU and the downtown area as well as the North Corridor (Columbus to Delaware). Check out his interview on ColumbusUnderground to learn more.
What about the Suburbs?
There is a lot of discussion around revitalization of the urban cores and reinvesting in our city's structures. However, one area that is often overlooked, yet vital to the conversation, is the suburbs which surround the cities. The Restoring Prosperity to Ohio initiative focuses on the revitalization of Ohio's core communities; cities which had a population of 15,000 and made up 20% of the county population in 1950. Although this is the initial framework used to identify study areas, key components of Ohio's economy are missing when limited to these parameters. Many of Ohio's first-ring suburbs face the same issues as cities when it comes to a depleted workforce and decaying housing and the Restoring Prosperity Initiative is working to include the suburban perspective into the conversation. The Urbanophile Review is one blog that is already doing this. The posting "Review: Retrofitting Suburbia," which reviews the book, Retrofitting Suburbia: Urban Design Solutions for Redesigning Suburbs, aptly discusses the challenges that midwestern suburbs face in today's economy and how they are linked to urban areas.
What will happen in 2009?
The Cleveland Plain Dealer released an article yesterday, "Ohio needs to be ready for economic rebound," which looks ahead to the "economy-building efforts and opportunities" that could happen in 2009. Although some of the efforts are focused on Northeast Ohio, the article adeptly outlines the challenges left from 2008 and possible strategies to Restore Prosperity to Ohio. Many of the initiatives outlined in the article closely align with the recommendations put forth by the Restoring Prosperity to Ohio initiative such as:
- Regional Collaboration: The regional prosperity initiative put forth by the Northeast Ohio Mayors and City Managers Association
- Targeted Investments: The "Strengthen the Strengths" strategy which calls for the identification of assets and targeting investments to develop them. One example of this is the expansion and development of University Circle in Cleveland; a job-growth hot spot which brings in investors.
- Human Capital: Developing worker-training programs to equip workers with the skills demanded by companies
These are just a couple of examples of promising initiative occurring in Northeast Ohio. Do you think the state is on the right track in its efforts? What development initiatives are going on in your area?
Regionalism Beyond State Boundaries- a glance into Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA made the front page of The New York Times today for its successful efforts to overcome its older industrial legacy. The city which was once in worse condition than most cities in the Mid-West, including Detroit, is now enjoying a low unemployment rate relative to the national average as well as an increase in housing prices. The city has worked hard to diversify its industry and may offer some best practices to help other Mid-West cities overcome the woes of their industrial past. Read the full article Not only does the success of Pittsburgh offer hope to ailing cities, it also supports the case for regional collarboration, a major tenet of the Restoring Prosperity to Ohio effort. Often, when people think of regional collaboration it is limited to state boundaries however this in not necessarily the case.
Steubenville, Ohio, which considers itself the "Burb of the Burgh" is one example of how state boundaries are becoming more porous. Downtown Steubenville is less than 30 miles from the Pittsburgh International Airport and is using its strategic location to purchase advertisements in the Pittsburgh area targeting businesses to relocate in Jefferson County.
Another example of cross-border collaboration is the Cleveland-Pittsburgh-Youngstown network which gives the three cities an opportunity to explore common concerns, share best practices, and identify opportunities for collaboration. One product of this network is the "Tech Belt Initiative" which aims to draw more private and federal dollars into tech-based development. (Read the full article)
As the possibility for multi-state regionalism increases it poses the questions, first; how do you create awareness of potential areas for collaboration and second; how do you create a funding stream for projects the costs one state money while benefitting another state (e.g. if light-rail line is constructed between Steubenville and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania aquires most of the cost while Steubenville receives the benefits)?
A New Year with Exciting Potential for Regionalism
Happy New Year from Greater Ohio! 2009 has great potential for the Restoring Prosperity to Ohio Initiative and exciting events are already occurring. One is the announcement from the Ohio Speaker of the House, Armond Budish, which pushes for regionalism in Ohio. Regional collaboration and governance is a major focus of the Restoring Prosperity Initiative and we are excited to work with legislators and Ohio leaders to put this into practice. Read the full article for more information.
We would also like to hear your thoughts on this new proposal. Is regional collaboration a possibility in Ohio? What are the major obstables to its implementation? Are there examples of this already occuring?