Two-day visit will include meetings with members of MetCouncil to gain better understanding of Fiscal Disparities program.
Contact: info@neo-rpi.org
Members of the Regional Prosperity Initiative (RPI) will travel to Minneapolis April 28-29 to meet with regional leaders there to discuss how government collaboration and cooperation can propel Northeast Ohio to a more successful economic future.
Through the extensive efforts of the RPI, political and community leaders have become increasingly aware that competition between local governments hinders the region's capacity to attract and retain business, encourages inappropriate and wasteful development patterns and creates inefficiencies in government operations. After researching other collaborate efforts from across the United States, it was determined in 2008 that region-wide land use planning accompanied with new growth revenue sharing would be an effective solution for reducing intergovernmental competition and creating an environment for economic prosperity in Northeast Ohio.
Those attending the two-day trip include Hudson Mayor William A. Currin, Richfield Mayor Michael K. Lyons, Willoughby Mayor David Anderson, Ashtabula County Planning Commissioner Albert Dispenza, Hudson City Schools Superintendent Steven Farnsworth and Cleveland State University researcher Tom Bier. RPI project managers Don Polyak and Kerry Smith of The Impact Group will also attend the trip.
“Our visit to Minneapolis will provide us the opportunity to meet with leaders who, more than 30 years ago, understood the importance of regional cooperation” Currin said. “The purpose of this visit is to better understand how their program, which includes regional land use planning and new growth revenue sharing, was implemented and continues to work today. Their success during the past 30 years can become a reality here in Northeast Ohio if we work together toward our own unique and comprehensive plan to bolster economic growth.”
The group is scheduled to meet with members of the Metropolitan Council, which has – over the years – become the primary metropolitan planning organization for the seven-county region. Among its many responsibilities, the Metropolitan Council is responsible for coordinating and implementing policies related to transportation, airports, wastewater, parks, housing, and planning and development.
For more information on the Metropolitan Council, please visit www.metrocouncil.org
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