Calendar Year 2021 Accomplishments |
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Each year, as Executive Director, I prepare a list of agency Top 10 Accomplishments. However, every year, the staff manages to exceed the goal. Below is a recap of MVRPC’s most impactful challenges and accomplishments during the calendar year 2021.
I. MVRPC-led Initiatives
II. Projects in Partnership
III. Board and Agency
- Bipartisan Infrastructure Law led by Ohio Senator Portman was signed by President Biden. MVRPC considers dues increase to provide matching funds for a larger grant award.
- Agency Bylaws modified to include the Institute for Livable and Equitable Communities, teleconferencing when allowed, adds the Chairperson title, and other updates.
- Executive Committee adds a Policy Subcommittee to discuss agency changes such as bylaws update and proposed member dues increase.
- Secured 9 new jurisdictions from Darke County as members effective June 1, 2021.
- Pursuing Preble, Darke, Shelby (PDS) Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO).
- The Ohio Transportation Budget was adopted.
IV. Staff Achievement and Recognition
- Laura Henry wins the Association for Commuter Transportation’s 40 under 40 award for her local, regional, and national leadership in rideshare. Laura is a seven year MVRPC employee and is the immediate past chairperson of the OARC statewide association’s rideshare committee.
- MVRPC, Dayton, and Five Rivers MetroParks receive second place in the Map Gallery competition for Riverfront Plan Focal Park Conceptual Design.
- Community and Regional Planning staff had numerous presentations for Ohio GIS, Ohio APA, and Southwest Ohio GIS Users conferences.
- MVRPC Executive Director wins Walter Sheiber NARC award for Regional Leadership.
- Mike Lucas was promoted as Agency Operations Director.
- Savannah Diamond was promoted as Assistant to the Executive Director.
- Andrew Dibert was promoted to Accountant.
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The year 2021 will certainly be a memorable one for all of us in the Miami Valley. MVRPC looks forward to continuously supporting and strengthening our region through providing professional, strategic and long term planning services and funding for transportation, land use, environment, GIS, livability, and equity for many years to come. |
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Thank You to Departing Board Members |
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MVRPC wishes to acknowledge the following leaders for their service to their communities and to the MVRPC Board of Directors:
- Katelyn Berbach, City of Tipp City
- Steve Boeder, City of Germantown
- Roy Mann, Jefferson Township
- Harold L. Robinson, City of West Carrollton
- Steve E. Ross, Bath Township
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Feedback Sought on DRAFT Dayton Region Economic Development Strategy |
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The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC) in partnership with the Dayton Development Coalition (DDC) seek public comment on the DRAFT of the Dayton Region Economic Development Strategy. The Dayton Region Economic Development Strategy is the comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) for the region, assembled with assistance of the US Economic Development Administration and significant input from stakeholders across the 13-county Dayton Region CEDS territory. After a brief presentation featuring a summary of the DRAFT plan, MVRPC and DDC staff will accept comments and answer questions.
A virtual Public Participation Meeting will take place via Zoom, a video conferencing platform, and will be held as follows: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Access the meetings via computer, tablet or mobile device using this link:
Or call in to join the meeting by phone:
(646) 558-8656 - Meeting ID: 82419923584# US (New York)
(301) 715-8592 - Meeting ID: 82419923584# US (Washington DC)
The DRAFT of the Dayton Region Economic Development Strategy plan document is also available for public review on MVRPC’s website at mvrpc.org/ceds and at the MVRPC offices, 10 North Ludlow St., Suite 700, Dayton, OH, 45402, during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday). Written comments regarding the DRAFT plan will be accepted at the above address, web address, or via email at sschweikhart@mvrpc.org until February 4, 2022.
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Is Yours an Age-Friendly, Livable Community? |
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MVRPC is seeking ten MVRPC member communities who will each receive funding to pursue a multi-year planning effort focused on recognizing the age-friendly, livable aspects of your community. If you would like to discuss this opportunity (in person or via ZOOM) please contact Leigh Sempeles at lsempeles@mvrpc.org.
The Miami Valley Age-Friendly Network has been established to work with MVRPC members to assess your community’s livability and to help you put together a team to make your county, city, town or neighborhood a great place to live for all ages. Age-Friendly livability projects across the country have been successfully implemented in communities of all sizes and in places that are urban, suburban and rural.
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Environmental Justice Academy |
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The Environmental Justice (EJ) Academy, sponsored by EPA Region 5 and MVRPC, is a training program developed for the emerging community, non-profit, and environmental leaders to help cultivate skills to identify and address environmental challenges in their communities. Through a series of nine modules, the EJ Academy teaches collaborative problem solving with community-based organizations, local government, small businesses, academic institutions and industry, to create a shared vision so that all who are part of the community have a voice. The modules include the topics of environmental law, visioning, community capacity building, leadership development, consensus building and dispute resolution, partnering and leveraging resources, identifying financial resources, management and replication of best practices. The 27 students currently enrolled represent different local communities within the Miami Valley Region and work in a variety of community organizations such as citizen and religious groups, local government, public health, and non-profit organizations. The 2021-2022 EJ Academy cohort is expected to graduate June 2022. For more information regarding the EJ Academy please contact Savannah Diamond at sdiamond@mvrpc.org.
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Planning and GIS Services to Continue in Year 2022 |
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MVRPC’s interdisciplinary staff team provides critical professional planning and GIS services to our member organizations for their successful planning and policy development efforts. During the year 2021, the MVRPC staff team was involved in a wide range of projects including Greene County Future Land Use Plan, Miami Township Comprehensive Plan, Dayton Riverfront Plan, City of Miamisburg C.A.R.E.S. Neighborhood Plan, City of Dayton Huffman Neighborhood Plan, City of Riverside Comprehensive Plan, City of Clayton GIS Application Development, Harrison Township GIS System Development, City of Clayton GIS Application Development, and more.
The examples of services from these projects include: project design; participating in the project steering committee; hosting interactive workshops with community leaders and the general public; data compilation, analysis, and visualization, mapping application development, and more.
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MVRPC's Laura Henry Recognized with National 40 Under 40 Award |
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The Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) celebrated the announcement of its 2021 40 Under 40 Award recipients during a ceremony on December 14, 2021. MVRPC's Laura Henry, Manager of Programs and Public Outreach, was among the honorees in recognition of her efforts to improve transportation options for commuters in our region and her leadership of the OARC Rideshare and Air Quality Subcommittee. Congratulations, Laura! |
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Regional Mobility Provider Wins ACT for Good Award |
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The Abilities Connection (TAC) is a nonprofit organization in Springfield, Ohio that provides an array of services for people with disabilities in our region. Over the last year, TAC has partnered with employers across the region to ensure all individuals with barriers have a reliable source of transportation to work. They have more than doubled the number of placements of individuals with disabilities in community-integrated settings and updated their mission to include people with "other barriers" to employment.
On December 8, 2021, representatives from the Midwest Chapter of the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) presented the ACT for Good Award to The Abilities Connection (TAC), recognizing TAC’s efforts to advance transportation equity. The Association for Commuter Transportation is an international association and leading advocate for commuter transportation and transportation demand management. The Midwest Chapter includes members from 12 states and Ontario. TAC received the most votes from members of the Midwest Chapter to receive the 2021 Act for Good Award!
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MVRPC created MiamiValleyRoads.org to provide updates on major construction projects that could impact commutes throughout the Region. It also provides user-friendly access to route planning tools, commute solutions and other ideas to reduce congestion and prevent air pollution for the areas under construction.
The construction project to repair the I-75 bridges over Edwin C. Moses Boulevard and Carillon Boulevard near the Great Miami River in Dayton continues. This project is expected to be completed in the Fall of 2022. Below are the areas that are currently closed or experiencing traffic pattern shifts:
- I-75 southbound and northbound will experience nightly lane width restrictions and multiple lane closures, between Albany Street and S.R. 741.
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A traffic pattern shift on I-75 northbound between Albany Street and State Route 741 (Springboro Pike) continues through Friday, September 2, 2022. The far-left 11' lane will shift onto I-75 southbound from SR 741 (Springboro Pike) in Moraine then shift back at Stewart St. There will be two 11' side-by-side thru-lanes on I-75 northbound next to the median wall. *Drivers will need to stay in the two right lanes of I-75 northbound to access the Edwin C. Moses Blvd. exit and the U.S. 35 exits.*
For a complete list of major construction projects provided by ODOT Districts 7 and 8 for the Region, visit MiamiValleyRoads.org. Follow MVRPC’s Facebook and Twitter pages for project update posts.
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Grants and Funding Resources |
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On a monthly basis, MVRPC highlights several funding opportunities on our website that could benefit communities in the Region. We include a description, contact information and program links. We have also listed other valuable resources for finding funding opportunities.
This month we are featuring information on:
- NEA Grants for Arts Projects– Deadline: February 10, 2022
- Rural Business Development Grant– Deadline: February 28, 2022
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Clean Ohio Green Space Funding
The District 11 Natural Resources Assistance Council has opened applications for Clean Ohio Green Space project funding. This funding is applicable to Darke, Greene, Miami and Preble Counties in the MVRPC region. Applications are due by March 18, 2022 to the new Ohio Public Works Commission portal. You can find the funding Methodology, as well as the Policies and Procedures document at the following link https://www.pwc.ohio.gov/District/District-11.
Clean Ohio Green Space funding is available for the acquisition, restoration and preservation of open space for the benefit of Ohio’s natural environment, wildlife, and residents. You can learn more about Clean Ohio Green Space projects here, including eligible and ineligible project types and costs.
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2022 Safe Routes to School Funding Opportunity
The 2022 Safe Routes to School (SRTS) application is now open for submissions until March 4, 2022. ODOT’s SRTS program is a reimbursement program that can provide up to 100% reimbursement for eligible activities utilizing federal funding. Funding is prioritized in communities who demonstrate high need, and for projects that demonstrate high student impact and improved safety and connectivity for students walking and biking.
The SRTS Program is accepting applications for:
- Infrastructure Projects (engineering solutions within 2 miles of school)
- Non-Infrastructure Projects (education, encouragement, enforcement, evaluation, or other programming related to enabling or encouraging kids to walk and bike to school)
- School Travel Plan Development Assistance (requesting reimbursement or consultant assistance with developing a School Travel Plan in your community).
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Upcoming Meetings and Events |
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MVRPC emails are produced through Constant Contact. We have negotiated a significantly reduced group rate for all of our MVRPC members and partners to join Constant Contact making it easy for you to offer your own customized, professional communication to your communities. You will save considerably more than you could joining the platform on your own, and even if you are already using Constant Contact you can apply our discount to save even more. Best of all, the MVRPC communication team is here to help you get started! Visit our unique Constant Contact link or contact Stacy Schweikhart, MVRPC Director of Strategy and Engagement to learn more sschweikhart@mvrpc.org. |
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