In Northeast Ohio, our current practice of government supports a “go-it-alone, winner-take-all” mentality and an unhealthy competition between municipalities and communities for job growth and economic development. Long-held practices limit our ability to share and collaborate, and instead, reward communities for competing against each other. Leaders from Northeast Ohio have taken action to change the current system and develop a program that will lead to greater economic prosperity.

Through these extensive efforts, political and community leaders have become increasingly aware during the last two years that competition between local governments for real estate, income and other tax revenues hinder our capacity as a region to attract and retain business, encourages inappropriate and wasteful development patterns and creates inefficiencies in government operations. After scrutinizing other collaborate efforts from across the United States, it was determined that region-wide land use planning accompanied with new growth tax base sharing has proven to be an effective solution for reducing intergovernmental competition and creating an environment for economic prosperity.

Once implemented, the Regional Prosperity Initiative (RPI) will provide the structure for region-wide land use planning and new growth tax base sharing in the 16-county Northeast Ohio region. In short, the RPI will allow our region to plan, share and grow…together.

This effort – to benefit through collaboration – is an unprecendented step toward government reform at the municipal, county and regional levels, with comprehensive results that can create a better environment for economic prosperity.

To learn about the history of the RPI, please click here.