by Laura Freeman
Reporter
Hudson -- How regionalism would work in Northeast Ohio will be the subject of a new study.
The Northeast Ohio Mayors and City Managers Association May 16 voted to continue a regional economic revenue study and are applying for an $80,000 grant from the Local Government Services and Regional Collaboration Grant Program for a feasibility study for a regional process for land use planning.
The study looks at a new approach to regional economic development where Northeast Ohio communities would work together to bring businesses to the region and share in the benefits.
Phase I studied existing regional revenue sharing models and how they could be duplicated in Northeast Ohio.
Hudson Mayor William Currin said Hudson and the Village of Richfield each will apply for separate grants, since regions cannot apply but municipalities can. The Village of Richfield will apply for a grant to further study regional new growth revenue sharing, and Hudson will apply for a grant to study smart use land planning.
"Smart use land planning invests into infrastructure already in place instead of creating new infrastructure to reduce urban sprawl," Currin said.
Council could vote on a resolution Aug. 20 to apply to the state for a grant to support the study.
Council member John Jeffers said the resolution wasn't binding financially and would promote a study to determine benefits and deficits.
Other Council members are expected to approve the application for the grant.
"You never know where a good idea will come from," said Council member David Basil. "This is a good effective way."
The Northeast Ohio Mayors and City Managers Association agreed to continue to explore the initial results of the Regional Economic Revenue Study and pursue four strategic directions in phase II of the study.
Currin said the goal of the RERS is to increase job growth and economic development in the region.
The RERS was funded by Our Economic Future, a collaboration of more than 85 foundations and other philanthropic organizations in Northeast Ohio, and contributing members of NEOMCMA and examined existing regional revenue sharing and land use planning models and how to apply them to Northeast Ohio.
"We have identified the challenges we face as a region, and we are focused on overcoming those challenges," said Village of Richfield Mayor Michael K. Lyons.
The fiscal sponsor for phase 1 and proposed for phase II of the study is Team NEO, the regional economic development organization for Northeast Ohio. The fiscal sponsor manages fundraising and accounting of the project funds.
Cleveland State University and Lorain County Community College have been involved in the study. Dr. Thomas Bier, director of the Cleveland State University's Urban Center, will direct the proposed feasibility study.
Besides Hudson other community partners include Akron, Ashland, Ashland County, Ashtabula, Bath Township, Bay Village, Brunswick, Carroll County, Cleveland, Columbiana County, Cuyahoga, Eastgate Regional Council of Govt., Elyria, Garfield Heights City Schools, Kent, Lorain, Lorain County, Medina County, Mentor, North Ridgeville, Portage County, Richland County, Stow, South Russell, Tallmadge, University Heights, Warren, Wayne County, Westlake, Willoughby and Youngstown.
E-mail: lfreeman@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3150