Preparing A Successful Bid for State Capital Budget Dollars (2023)

Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC), the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC), and Heritage Ohio will host a webinar, “Preparing a Successful Bid for State Capital Budget Dollars” to assist local changemakers in understanding the capital budget process.

GOPC’s Director of Strategic Engagement, Jason Warner, OFCC’s Grants Administrator, Jessica DeLong, and Heritage Ohio’s Executive Director Matt Wiederhold will provide communities with a “101 on the Capital Budget,” as well as case study examples of small communities utilizing capital budget dollars for thoughtfully-planned projects, including their planning steps and process to secure funds.

Slides from the webinar can be accessed here.

Understanding Ohio’s Biennial Budget Process (2023)

Greater Ohio Policy Center Director of Strategic Engagement Jason Warner provides an overview of Ohio’s state budget process and how and when Ohio lawmakers will enact two of the state’s primary budgets, the state Transportation Budget and the Main Operating Budget.

This fast-paced webinar will discuss the full process of enacting the state’s budgets which will fund state government operations for the next two years, including committee hearings, amendments, floor votes and conference committee. Following the presentation, participants will be able to ask questions to get a better understanding of the budget process.

Slides from the webinar can be accessed here.

2023 Public Policy Webinar

Reflect & Refocus: Furthering Resilient Communities

Resilient communities are able to withstand and recover quickly from difficult conditions. Ohio has hundreds of cities, villages, counties, and townships that have weathered economic recessions, natural disasters, and, other major challenges, emerging changed, but formidable.

The Greater Ohio Policy Center’s 2023-2024 public policy agenda, Reflect & Refocus: Furthering Resilient Communities, calls for state policy changes that will strengthen communities’ resiliency through revitalization and sustainable development. This platform channels advocacy successes achieved in the past two General Assemblies, and introduces policy recommendations that are grounded in data and our deep expertise in legacy cities.

This platform looks to state-specific funding sources, as well as the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The federal funds, in particular, are once-in-a-generation opportunities to make the investment needed to maintain strong legacy cities and rural areas.

Through catalytic partnership, informed leadership, and leveraged funding, we can further resiliency among Ohio’s communities.

Join Greater Ohio Policy Center’s Director of Strategic Engagement Jason Warner for an overview of our 2023 Public Policy Platform and learn more about our top legislative goals for the 135th Ohio General Assembly.

GOPC will discuss our policy platform and why enactment of the proposed policy objectives is critical for Ohio communities working to revitalize. Staff will describe pragmatic, high-impact policies that support

• Revitalizing Ohio’s Brownfields

• Connecting People to Places

• Unleash Opportunity in Ohio

• Reduce Barriers to Development and Homeownership

A Conversation with the Ohio Department of Development: An Overview of the Brownfield Remediation Fund

Presented by Revitalizing Ohio’s Brownfields

The Ohio Department of Development will keynote this panel to provide participants with an overview of the newly established rules for the Brownfields Remediation Fund. Brownfield stakeholders have been eagerly awaiting the guidance from the Department since the creation of the Fund in July 2021. Leadership from the Ohio Department of Development will provide a broad overview of the new rules, with a Q&A period.

Moderator:

• Aaron Clapper, Senior Manager of Outreach and Projects | Greater Ohio Policy Center

Special Guests:

• President Matt Huffman, 12th District | Ohio Senate

• Senator Sandra Williams, 21st District | Ohio Senate

• Senator Michael Rulli, 33rd District | Ohio Senate

Panelists:

• Brent Smith, Senior Project Manager, Professional Geologist, and Remediation Specialist | Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.

• Mike Fraizer, Division Chief, Community Services Division | Ohio Department of Development

• Megan Meadows, Deputy Chief, Community Services Division | Ohio Department of Development

Tackling Ohio’s Brownfields: An Overview of Ohio’s Available Brownfield Funding Programs

Presented by Revitalizing Ohio’s Brownfields

The newly created Brownfield Remediation Program is an exciting investment in Ohio’s future. This program is sure to sharpen the skills and expertise of local leaders. This panel is for those interested in learning about Ohio’s other brownfields funding and financing opportunities, which can complement or enhance the Brownfield Remediation Program. This webinar will provide participants with an overview of Ohio’s current funding programs available at the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA), the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA), the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD), and JobsOhio.

Moderator:

Aaron Clapper, Senior Manager of Outreach and Projects | Greater Ohio Policy Center

Panelists:

Sally Gladwell, Principal | The Mannik & Smith Group

Diana Rife, Director, Sites | JobsOhio

Ken Heigel, Executive Director | Ohio Water Development Authority

Annie van Blaricom, Special Projects Manger | Ohio Department of Development

Roxanne Anderson, Brownfields Coordinator | Ohio Environmental Protection Agency

Preparing & Prioritizing: Assembling a Plan of Action for Brownfield Remediation Projects

Presented by Revitalizing Ohio’s Brownfields

Ohio's newly created Brownfield Remediation Fund holds great possibilities for local communities. However, local government staff and elected officials may be unsure how to begin preparing to apply for and utilize BRF funds. This webinar provides attendees with an overview of what it takes to see a brownfield project through from start to finish. Panelists will explain what due diligence local leaders should do on a potential site, what expertise a community might want to assemble to ensure a successful and cost-efficient remediation project, and what to expect each step of the project.

Moderator:

Aaron Clapper, Senior Manager of Outreach and Projects | Greater Ohio Policy Center

Panelists:

David Ebersole, Director of Economic Development | City of Cleveland

Jeffry Harris, Public Financing Attorney | Bricker & Eckler, LLP

Craig Kasper, Executive Vice President | Hull & Associates, LLC

Sarah Lown, Public Finance Manager | Western Reserve Port Authority

How Small And Midsized Cities In Ohio Plan To Deploy Their ARPA Funds

The passage of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provides Ohio's communities the potential to significantly impact revitalization efforts already underway. This webinar will provide participants with an opportunity to hear first-hand from peers in Legacy City communities on how strategic planning and community engagement is guiding their decision making for ARPA allocations, and how individual communities may prioritize their ARPA funds.

Presenters (click name for bio & contact)

Todd Kinskey, FAICP, Director of Planning, Neighborhoods & Development City of Dayton

Max Upton, MPA, Director of Building, Housing & Planning City of Lorain

Shannon Meadows, Community Development Director City of Springfield

Rebuilding With Equity: The Future Of Smaller Legacy Cities

Leaders in America’s smaller legacy cities—former industrial and manufacturing hubs like Dayton, Ohio, and Gary, Indiana—can adopt equitable development strategies to meet the need for sound, long-term economic growth; to respond proactively to calls for racial equity; and to remedy the inequities laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement. Improving equity broadens everyone’s access to opportunity while boosting economic prospects for an entire city.

This webinar focuses on why equitable development is a sound strategy for smaller legacy cities today. Practitioners share stories from legacy cities that are already embracing equity and inclusion. Presenters articulate why equity is an important goal for their city or organization, and what equitable development looks like in the smaller legacy city context.

The webinar builds on the Policy Focus Report Equitably Developing America's Smaller Legacy Cities: Investing in Residents from South Bend to Worcester, published in May 2021.

How Can Local Philanthropy Facilitate New Tools for Housing Affordability

Keeping Residents In Their Homes: A GOPC-Lincoln Institute Of Land Policy Webinar Series

The Covid-19 crisis removed an already thin veil obscuring the slim line between housing security and insecurity for many Americans. This dynamic is particularly true for many extremely cost-burdened residents of America’s legacy cities. Rising unemployment, low-wage jobs, and limited new employment opportunities mean that residents who were formerly “just getting by” are now at risk of losing their housing.

This webinar series explores strategies for preserving neighborhood stability in small, medium and large legacy cities. Strategies will focus on steps philanthropy, mission-driven developers, and local governments can take to promote housing and neighborhood stability.

This webinar is part 1 of 4.

Presenters (click name for bio & contact)

• Jennifer Roller, President of the Raymond John Wean Foundation

• Sue Lehman, CEO, Findley Hope House (Findley, Ohio)

• Lark Mallory, General Counsel, Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County

Moderator:

• Matthew Martin, Community Research & Grants Management Officer, The Columbus Foundation

Pivots Mission-Driven Developers Can Make to Promote Stability During COVID-19

Keeping Residents In Their Homes: A GOPC-Lincoln Institute Of Land Policy Webinar Series

The Covid-19 crisis removed an already thin veil obscuring the slim line between housing security and insecurity for many Americans. This dynamic is particularly true for many extremely cost-burdened residents of America’s legacy cities. Rising unemployment, low-wage jobs, and limited new employment opportunities mean that residents who were formerly “just getting by” are now at risk of losing their housing.

This webinar series explores strategies for preserving neighborhood stability in small, medium and large legacy cities. Strategies will focus on steps philanthropy, mission-driven developers, and local governments can take to promote housing and neighborhood stability.

This webinar is part 2 of 4.

Presenters (click name for bio & contact)

• Jonathan Welty, President, Ohio Capital Finance Corporation

• Rachel Hastings, Executive Director, Price Hill Will (Cincinnati)

• Kim Cutcher, Executive Director, LISC Toledo

Moderator:

• Sheldon K. Johnson, Vice President of Community Development, Community Building Partners (an enterprise of Praxia Partners)

Understanding Ohio’s Biennial Budget Process (2021)

Greater Ohio Policy Center Director of Strategic Engagement Jason Warner provides an overview of Ohio’s state budget process and how and when Ohio lawmakers will enact two of the state’s primary budgets, the state Transportation Budget and the Main Operating Budget.

This fast-paced webinar will discuss the full process of enacting the state’s budgets which will fund state government operations for the next two years, including committee hearings, amendments, floor votes and conference committee. Following the presentation, participants will be able to ask questions to get a better understanding of the budget process.

Slides from the webinar can be accessed here.

2021 Public Policy Platform Webinar

2020 has been a period of unprecedented challenges for Ohio and the nation. Each month has seemingly presented a new crisis. But out of those challenges are opportunities—opportunities for reform and growth to build a Greater Ohio.

Through advocacy, research, outreach, and education, Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) strives to create a policy and political climate that allows communities to stabilize and thrive for statewide economic growth. It is imperative that state policymakers be well informed about the issues and opportunities facing Ohio.

Today, Ohio and the nation teeter on the edge of a recession, and  our small businesses and residents are likely to absorb the brunt of the pandemic’s economic fallout. GOPC’s mission “to improve the communities of Ohio through smart growth strategies and research,” is more important than ever. Our policy recommendations for Ohio’s leaders and policymakers will create the conditions for resilient, sustainable communities. We are committed to our vision of a revitalized Ohio.

GOPC’s 2020-2021 public policy agenda is based on objective data, not politics. It builds upon what exists, sees what could be, and creates solutions to enable sustainable growth; encourages pride in place; and fosters collaboration by “Building a Greater Ohio.” 

This webinar features GOPC Staff discussing the different aspects of our 2021 Public Policy Platform and respond to questions about our legislative agenda for the 134th Ohio General Assembly. (Slides from the webinar can be accessed here.)

Brownfields Regulatory Reform: A Webinar on HB168 and the BFPD

GOPC hosted an informational webinar on House Bill 168 (HB168) and the Bona Fide Purchaser Defense (BFPD). GOPC championed this legislation through the 133rd General Assembly, where it was unanimously passed in the House and Senate and signed by Governor DeWine earlier this summer. The law takes effect September 14th, 2020.

HB168 incorporates the BFPD into Ohio law – extending the federal protections under USEPA’s CERCLA to prospective purchasers of brownfields who follow All Appropriate Inquiries and proper Due Diligence standards in Ohio. Until HB168, a prospective purchaser could follow standards and be recognized with the protections at the federal level, but not in the state of Ohio. HB168 fills this necessary gap.

This webinar provided participants with a overview on the legislation, and a detailed understanding for the practical implementation of the BFPD in the redevelopment of lightly contaminated brownfield sites.

If you missed this webinar, and would like to learn more about the BFPD, please visit GOPC’s BFPD page. A recording of the webinar is live on that page, as well as a detailed FAQ.

COVID-19 Response & Recovery Webinar Series

In partnership with the Ohio State Resource Network (OSRN), GOPC’s three-part webinar series on COVID-19 Response & Recovery provides community leaders with peer learning opportunities surrounding budgeting in a crisis, planning for recovery, and effectively utilizing state and federal funding. Below, please find a brief description of each and important links.

Webinar 1: Budgeting in a Crisis 101

On June 3, PFM and the Greater Ohio Policy Center facilitated a presentation and discussion regarding re-forecasting governmental budgets in an uncertain COVID-19 economy as well as how to address the Crisis’ impacts on tax revenues, non-tax revenues, and expenditures.  

Nationally-recognized, planning consultants shared best practices and answered participant questions. The webinar intended to prepare Ohio’s cities, towns, and villages for being resourceful and making informed budget decisions in this challenging time.

View materials from Webinar 1:

Webinar 1: Budgeting in a Crisis 101, Presentation Slides
Part I - Balancing the Budget in Bad Times, The Government Finance Officers Association
Part II - Balancing the Budget in Bad Times, The Government Finance Officers Association
PFM Perspectives - Decision-Making in the COVID-19 Crisis

COVID-19 Response & Recovery Webinar Series

In partnership with the Ohio State Resource Network (OSRN), GOPC’s three-part webinar series on COVID-19 Response & Recovery provides community leaders with peer learning opportunities surrounding budgeting in a crisis, planning for recovery, and effectively utilizing state and federal funding. Below, please find a brief description of each and important links.

Webinar 2: Planning for Recovery 101

On June 17, Greater Ohio Policy Center and City Managers from Hamilton, Cleveland Heights, and Sandusky presented on how to plan for recovering from the impacts of COVID-19. Local governments will need to prepare early for how they will move forward; planning for the future will, more than ever, be essential to a community’s success.
 
To assist attendees in charting their path forward, GOPC facilitated a presentation and panel discussion with City Managers Joshua Smith from Hamilton, Tanisha Briley from Cleveland Heights, and Eric Wobser from Sandusky.

View the presentation and materials from Webinar 2:

Webinar 2: Planning for Recovery 101 Presentation Slides
Supplemental Handout: Proven Transformational Strategies

COVID-19 Response & Recovery Webinar Series

In partnership with the Ohio State Resource Network (OSRN), GOPC’s three-part webinar series on COVID-19 Response & Recovery provides community leaders with peer learning opportunities surrounding budgeting in a crisis, planning for recovery, and effectively utilizing state and federal funding. Below, please find a brief description of each and important links.

Webinar 3: Effective Use of State & Federal Funding 101

On June 30, Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) and Enterprise Community Partners hosted a presentation and discussion regarding strategizing to receive State- and Federal-pass through money and how to effectively use those resources in the short-term to advance long-term community goals.  

GOPC and Enterprise Community Partners’ national Policy Team gave a presentation, followed by a Q&A session with presenters. In addition, GOPC guided a group discussion on ways to attract funds into legacy communities and other areas that were already fragile before the COVID-19 pandemic. Ohio will face significant challenges post-Crisis, and this session provided tools to help communities strategize for digging out from the pandemic’s fall out.

Preparing a Successful Bid for State Capital Budget Dollars (2019)

In partnership with Heritage Ohio and the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, Greater Ohio Policy Center hosted a webinar providing communities with a “101 on the Capital Budget”, and examples of small communities utilizing capital budget dollars for thoughtfully-planned projects, including their planning steps and process to secure funds.

Download Webinar Slides
View Webinar

Civic Capacity: Building the Foundation for Revitalization

In conjunction with J.P. Morgan Chase, Greater Ohio Policy Center hosted a free webinar to share concrete steps stakeholders can take to strengthen local civic capacity and leverage it for impact in their community. The webinar brought together experts in local government, finance, and community development to share strategies for success.

Download Webinar Slides
Slides from Dione Alexander - Village Capital Corporation

Preserving Our Neighborhoods: An Educational Webinar on HB 463

During the Webinar, panelists discussed new provisions enacted by HB 463 and what they mean for neighborhood stabilization and economic development.

View Webinar

Webinar on Ohio’s Small and Mid-Sized Legacy Cities

In conjunction with the Ohio CDC Association, Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) co-hosted a Webinar that examined how smaller legacy cities, from Akron to Zanesville, have fared over the last 15 years.

GOPC shared findings from its recent report on how these cities’ economic conditions compare to Ohio’s larger legacy cities and Columbus. The presentation also focused on best practices that smaller legacy cities throughout the Midwest and Northeast used to jumpstart revitalization and that local community and economic development practitioners can catalyze and implement.

View Webinar

Webinars for Commercial Vacant Property Redevelopment

Greater Ohio Policy Center, in partnership with the Ohio CDC Association, presented four webinars in the summer of 2015 that explained how to accomplish various aspects of commercial vacant property redevelopment and commercial district revitalization in legacy communities.

PLANNING FOR COMMERCIAL VACANT PROPERTY REUSE
June 24, 2015 Webinar
This first webinar provides an overview of the first steps of any commercial revitalization process. These steps involve gaining an understanding the targeted property type and the specifics of its context, developing a plan for commercial revitalization that leverages the advantages of commercial vacant properties, and coordinating cross-sector partnerships around a framework for action. During this webinar, we present a commercial property typology, which breaks down the diversity of commercial property types; a description of the advantages of commercial vacant properties and the benefits of their reuse; and guidance on how to prepare for productive commercial property reuse. We also provide guidance on how to select an appropriate commercial vacant property reuse, maximizing the "match" between the property and its reuse.

Watch this free archived Webinar here

Learn More and View Archived Webinars

Webinars for Commercial Vacant Property Redevelopment

Greater Ohio Policy Center, in partnership with the Ohio CDC Association, presented four webinars in the summer of 2015 that explained how to accomplish various aspects of commercial vacant property redevelopment and commercial district revitalization in legacy communities.

TOOLS & STRATEGIES FOR COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE REDEVELOPMENT
July 29, 2015 Webinar
The second webinar supplies tools and strategies that can be used to address the unique challenges of commercial real estate redevelopment. Additionally, strategies for motivating property owners to reuse commercial vacant properties and for gaining site control are covered in this webinar. Within these topics, GOPC covers tools and strategies that together can help practitioners in a variety of contexts return commercial vacant properties to productive use.

Watch this free archived Webinar here

Webinars for Commercial Vacant Property Redevelopment

Greater Ohio Policy Center, in partnership with the Ohio CDC Association, presented four webinars in the summer of 2015 that explained how to accomplish various aspects of commercial vacant property redevelopment and commercial district revitalization in legacy communities.

TOOLS & STRATEGIES FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRICT MANAGEMENT
August 26, 2015 Webinar
Commercial revitalization requires the productive reuse of redeveloped spaces. This webinar lays out strategies and models for managing commercial districts in addition to specific methods for developing and attracting business tenants. Methods for developing existing businesses and attracting desirable new economic uses are described as part of implementing an overall business district management approach. The combination of commercial property redevelopment and long-term business support programs may increase the potential for successful commercial revitalization.

Watch this free archived Webinar here

Webinars for Commercial Vacant Property Redevelopment

Greater Ohio Policy Center, in partnership with the Ohio CDC Association, presented four webinars in the summer of 2015 that explained how to accomplish various aspects of commercial vacant property redevelopment and commercial district revitalization in legacy communities.

TOOLS FOR OVERCOMING FINANCIAL GAPS
September 16, 2015 Webinar
Since the costs of commercial vacant property demolition, clean-up, and redevelopment can be prohibitively high, each of these activities require established and creative finacing sources in the future, especially in weaker markets and legacy cities. Various sources and ways of using capital from the private, public, and non-profit sectors are described in this webinar.

Watch this free archived Webinar here