On Our Radar: News Clips from Greater Ohio Policy Center

At Greater Ohio Policy Center, we monitor the news daily to learn more about the sustainable growth initiatives and related developments in our state and beyond that affect Ohio. Below are articles that caught our attention over the last few weeks, and we thought they might interest you as well. If you have an article you would like to share with us, please email it to Jason Warner at jwarner@greaterohio.org. 

Thank you,
The Greater Ohio Policy Center Staff

GOPC In the News

Reinventing Small Cities
The City of Sandusky is on a roll driven, its leaders say, by redevelopment and investment in its historic architecture, support for entrepeneurs and a growing reputation as a tourism destination. The secret of Sandusky's success, which will be the focus of a City Club of Cleveland forum this week, is important for many small cities across the state seeking to reinvent themselves. 
WCPN Radio Cleveland - 1/9/2020 

Things looking up for Ohio’s smaller cities despite challenges, report says
An improving economy played a role, but efforts in some cities, where communities rallied around shared priorities, were also important factors.
Columbus Dispatch - 1/10/2020 Reporter Mark Ferenchik
 

Administration

DeWine’s first year in office: ‘You can tell he’s loving being governor’
Mike DeWine’s long-ambition to be Ohio governor came true last year, giving him the power to advance his agenda and delivering him a capstone to his public service career that has spanned five decades.
Dayton Daily News - 1/5/2020 Reporter Laura A. Bischoff
 
DeWine elected lead governor on Appalachian Regional Commission
Fellow governors have elected Ohio’s Mike DeWine as the states’ co-chairman of the Appalachian Regional Commission.
Columbus Dispatch - 1/9/2020 Reporter Randy Ludlow

Census

2020: It's Census year
Happy New Year — it’s 2020, the start of a new decade and a presidential election year, but it also brings the once-per-decade count of every person living in the United States: the census.
Athens Messenger - 1/3/2020 Reporter Heather Willard

U.S. Census Bureau puts out call for temporary workers
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The U.S. Census Bureau on Tuesday repeated its call to find temporary workers for the spring and early summer, with pay rates for an enumerator collecting information ranging from $16 to $22.50 an hour in Greater Cleveland.
Cleveland Plain Dealer - 1/8/2020

Construction

Abandoned gas station to become custom design furniture shop
AUSTINBURG — It’s been nearly three years since workers removed four underground tanks from beneath the long-abandoned gas station at the corner of state routes 45 and 307.
Ashtabula Star Beacon - 1/8/2020 Reporter Shelley Terry

Economic & Workforce Development 

New space open for OhioMeansJobs, more on way
LIMA — The new and improved employment center for OhioMeansJobs and the Allen County Department of Jobs and Family Services is open for business.
Lima News - 1/8/2020 Reporter Josh Ellerbrock

Housing & Urban Development 

HUD awards nearly $350,000 to Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority for education, job training programs
AKRON, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development this week awarded nearly $79 million to about 700 public housing agencies across the country, including $349,899 to the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority.
Cleveland Plain Dealer - 1/4/2020 Reporter Robin Goist
 
Landlords say new rules could actually exacerbate evictions in Akron
With snow falling in late December, the brown and orange turkey and “Thanksgiving” decals clung to the cold storm door.
Akron Beacon Journal - 1/6/2020 Reporter Doug Livingston

Grant money available to rehab two dozen local homes
Twenty-four local homes will soon be helped through Community Housing Impact and Preservation grants.
Marietta Times - 1/8/2020 Reporter Michele Newbanks

Columbus to test fed’s one-stop housing sites
Columbus is one of 34 cities nationwide to be chosen for an EnVision Center to connect subsidized-housing residents to job, education, health and wellness programs. The local center is housed at a Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority facility at 1407 Cleveland Ave. in South Linden.
Columbus Dispatch - 1/9/2020 Reporter Mark Ferenchik

Local Government

Council members will continue ‘rollback’ policy for property taxes
Citing the property tax burden in Cincinnati, a majority of City Council is poised to continue setting the city’s property tax rate for operations so that $29 million is collected in 2021, the 22nd consecutive year it has followed the so-called rollback policy.
Cincinnati Business Courier - 1/7/2020 Reporter Chris Wetterich
 
Summit County to begin foreclosure proceedings against Chapel Hill Mall
AKRON, Ohio -- Summit County has begun preparing a foreclosure complaint against the owners of Chapel Hill Mall, which avoided being forced to close Friday after the property owner made a partial payment on an overdue water and sewer bill.
Cleveland Plain Dealer - 1/7/2020 Reporter Robin Goist

Transportation & Infrastructure

TARTA quietly launches new bus-tracking app
Seven years ago, the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority proclaimed its entry into the age of digital communications with the rollout of TARTA Tracker, a smartphone app and website providing real-time bus status information for riders.
Toledo Blade - 1/7/2020 Reporter David Patch

Self-driving shuttles coming to Linden in first test in US residential neighborhood, official says
An autonomous shuttle is expected to begin service in the Linden neighborhood this month in the first residential test of self-driving shuttles in the nation. The shuttles will run along a 2.8-mile route and connect to services like St. Stephen’s Community House.
Columbus Dispatch - 1/8/2020 Reporter Mark Ferenchik

Laketran prioritizes Dial-a-Ride improvements after 2019 levy passage
The Laketran board of trustees recently approved Phase One of a set of service improvements that will be funded by the passage of the agency’s November 2019 sales tax levy.
Willoughby News Herald - 1/9/2020 Reporter Chad Felton