The latest stop in our #GOPCThread #OHCommunitySpotlight series is Piqua. The town, which was briefly known in the 60’s as “The Atomic City” hasn’t had to deal with population loss like other Ohio #LegacyCities, but has still had to weather economic shifts and preservation of historic infrastructure to help keep it on the cutting edge.
Not on Twitter, the thread is available online as well as below.
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Today on the #GOPCThread, we check out the @CityofPiqua for another installment of our #OhioCommunitySpotlight series
Founded in 1807, #Piqua is located 27mi north of Dayton in Miami County. The name Piqua is derived from the Shawnee language and the area was home to the Miami people #GOPCThread
Native Lands (click image for link)
#Piqua had the first city-owned nuclear power plant from 1962-66, earning Piqua a short-lived nickname as “The Atomic City” #GOPCThread
While the city has not experienced population loss, growth has stalled in recent decades, and #Piqua has had to deal with economic shifts and maintaining historic infrastructure. Solid planning and leadership have kept Piqua at the cutting edge #GOPCThread
Today, #Piqua still has a large manufacturing presence, with major employers like @EvenfloBaby, @NittoAmericas, and @HartzellProp #GOPCThread
#Piqua received national recognition for its complete streets policy in 2013, named #9 in the nation out of more than 80 cities, states, and regions that passed similar legislation in the same year #GOPCThread
Best Complete Streets Policies | Smart Growth America (click image for link)
#Piqua residents have also demonstrated high-capacity responsiveness. In 2006, private and public sector partners raised $4M in 10 days to access Historic Tax Credit funding to save the Fort Piqua Plaza #GOPCThread
How Piqua Saved Its Landmark Hotel | Dayton Business Journal (click image for link)
Federal and state grants and tax credits, along with fundraising efforts by the city, made the project possible. The project also used #CORF dollars. In 2012, the Fort Piqua Plaza restoration earned the city an award from @SavingPlaces #GOPCThread
Fort Piqua Plaza Restoration Earns National Award | Dayton Daily News (click image for link)
Fort Piqua Plaza currently houses the @PiquaLibrary, a chocolate and coffee shop, a fine dining restaurant, and a banquet facility. #GOPCThread
In recognition of the value of its Historic Downtown and to expand redevelopment efforts, #Piqua established a #CORE Fund in 2017 to provide gap financing for urban core projects. In its first year, the iPiqua fund surpassed its $1M year-end goal #GOPCThread
Fund Piqua Growing Momentum (click image for link)
2017 Annual Report | Grown Piqua Now (click image for link)
More recently, #Piqua began a new community-planning project to tweak development standards and improve the physical quality of their built environment. #CodePiqua builds upon prior planning exercises to create a user-friendly, modern code #GOPCThread
New community planning project aims to improve economic development in Piqua | Dayton Business Journal (click image for link)
#CodePiqua directly ties back to recommendations made in the Plan It Piqua Comprehensive Plan. The new code will prioritize a streamlined permit system for new development and holistic transportation planning #GOPCThread
Code Piqua (click image for link)
Strategic planning and collaboration are invaluable components to maintaining and building a vibrant community. Commitment by city leadership to engage residents and move on good ideas have contributed to @CityofPiqua ’s current success
Did we miss anything? Reply with your favorite Piqua project or fact and stay tuned for the next edition of GOPC’s Community Spotlight! #GOPCThread
