Recent News
Soccer, Startups, and Self-Driving Vehicles Hope to Secure the Future of Cincinnati
Cincinnati has been making headlines with recent innovation and economic development, a brand new pro-sports team, and a larger than ever population according to the most recent census. These achievements mark a new age for Cincinnati, one in which investment in the city’s future comes first. For the first time in more than a decade…
Ohio House Elects New Speaker
After weeks of negotiating, the Ohio House of Representatives finally chose Representative Ryan Smith (R-Bidwell) to be Speaker of the House for the remainder of the 132nd General Assembly. The chamber has been without an official leader since former Speaker Cliff Rosenberger resigned in April amid an FBI investigation into his travel expenses. That investigation and the…
Toledo Area Wrestles with Regional Water
In early 2018, elected leaders from Toledo and surrounding communities signed a Memorandum of Understanding creating the framework for the Toledo Area Water Authority (TAWA). For years the City of Toledo has supplied water to many communities in the surrounding region, but the water system, including the Collins Park Water Treatment Plant, remained under city…
Executive Order Fast Tracks Autonomous Vehicle Testing
As autonomous vehicles continue to change the way we view transportation, Governor John Kasich issued a timely executive order to ensure Ohio remains at the forefront of this growing industry. On May 9, Kasich issued Executive Order 2018-04K to permit the testing of autonomous vehicles on all roads and highways in Ohio. The order also provides…
Opportunity Zones: A New Economic Development Tool for Ohio
A new economic development tool called Opportunity Zones, could bring new, private investments to economically distressed communities in Ohio and across the country. In December of last year, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 which overhauled and reformed the United States’ mammoth federal tax code. Within this complex piece of legislation,…
Legislature Weighs in on College Affordability
At the first hearing of the Joint Committee on College Affordability, Chancellor of High Education John Carey testified that Ohio’s efforts to make college more affordable have made a difference. In his testimony, Carey credited the administration and legislature’s efforts for improving the affordability of Ohio’s public universities and community colleges. Carey noted that tuition…
Changes in Akron Leadership Usher in New Age for Economic Development
At the 2017 Impact Ohio Akron Regional Conference, we saw an overarching theme of change. Akron is seeing new public and private leadership implemented city-wide as some of the region’s largest institutions welcome newcomers to the top of their ranks. Amongst these entities are the Akron-Canton Airport, University of Akron, Leadership Akron, Akron-Summit County Public…
Smart Transportation Could Reduce Infant Mortality
After winning The Smart City Challenge and receiving a $50 million grant to transform Columbus into a Smart City, community leaders hope to use some of this money on an initiative to reduce infant mortality rates. The infant mortality rate in Franklin County is high above the national average. Having a child in an urban environment…
Primary Answers Some Questions, Leaves Many for November
After an ugly runup that brought intraparty fights into the open, Ohio’s voters mostly stuck with establishment candidates in Ohio’s primary election on May 7. Attorney General Mike DeWine bested Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor by almost 20 percentage points in a Republican gubernatorial primary in which both candidates spent millions on attack ads. DeWine now…