Ohio’s Urban Counties Are Looking for Help

Hamilton County and most other urban counties in Ohio are seeking tools to revitalize their cores and make headway against global and national trends such as the sprawl of our residential and business sectors, the abandonment of old housing and industrial sites, and rising foreclosure rates.

What can be done to assist the elected and appointed leaders of urban communities in overcoming obstacles to development?

HCDC is hosting a discussion on September 27 to address this question. The program, titled “Revitalization of Urban Counties: New Legislative and Program Initiatives,” will assemble a panel of state and local political leaders and government officials who are working to address these challenges. Those who are expected to participate:

Former Ohio Senate President Richard Finan
State Sen. Robert Schueler
State Rep. Steve Driehaus
Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune
Regional Director Brewster Rhoads, Office of the Governor
A representative from the Ohio Department of Development
Hamilton County lobbyist Sean Dunn

Topics will include eminent domain, vacant and abandoned property, foreclosures, and the new laws and programs being proposed to deal with urban development issues. Starting points for the discussion:

-- Ohio is No. 2 in the nation for foreclosures, according to a recent report in the Business Courier.

-- The General Assembly passed a new earlier this year that tightens restrictions on when governments may use eminent domain to take private property.

Gov. Ted Strickland said after his 2006 election that he planned to seek program changes to help urban areas. What is happening? What is being proposed? Come to HCDC’s panel discussion, “Revitalization of Urban Counties: New Legislative and Program Initiatives,” to learn more.

What:  Panel discussion, “Revitalization of Urban Counties: New Legislative and Program Initiatives”
Date:  Sept. 27
Time:  8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Where:  Hamilton County Business Center, 1776 Mentor Ave., Norwood 45212

The event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required due to space limitations. Please RSVP to Paula Bennington at (513) 631-8292, ext. 23, or pbennington@hcdc.com.