PO Box 776 URBANA, OHIO 43078 WWW.OCCD.ORG OHIO CONFERENCE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, INC. October, 2011 President’s Address By: Verna Vance, OCCD President beginning in October, the fall changed dramatically over the All of these things could make has always represented the past six years. a “hard man humble” if we Special New Year. didn’t have the gem of OCCD. We’ve seen a major housing Our vision and commitment Thanks This fall also represents crisis and economic downturn. has produced a strong a beginning; it begins my We are struggling with a foundation that enables us to the year of “living dangerously” tsunami of homes for sale in to keep educated on the better known as my year as a market where homes are ever-changing environment Annual President of OCCD. not selling. We endure the of government programs. Meeting blight of boarded up homes OCCD supports its members One thing I’ve notice during in our neighborhoods. Local my time on the board is that we by creating networking Sponsors governments are struggling opportunities across the State have a unique organization. to provide essential services I’ve talked to representatives of Ohio, as well as providing a This year’s Annual in the wake of major cuts in collaborative atmosphere with Meeting sponsors of HUD funded programs in revenue. other states and they don’t our funding agencies. were Ohio Capital First, I’d like to say I am have anything like OCCD. Along with these struggles With our talented staff and Corporation for honored to serve as President The continuing mission of and challenges, we are the commitment from our Housing for the for the 2011-2012 term. I OCCD for nearly 50 years now seeing a loss of some of the committees and board, thank all who have supported is to make our communities senior members of our staffs I’m confi dent that we will Awards Luncheon me as I made my way up the well rounded healthy places and the program knowledge continue to adapt to any future and Squire, Sanders chairs of offi ce on the board. to live, work and play. In that they’ve acquired over the challenges. and Dempsey LLP For most of my life, fall has our roles as community years. Here at Montgomery represented the beginning. and economic development County we had the “summer We welcome your support and for the Banquet From the school year professionals, we use our of retirements”. The situation involvement. Hope to see you Reception. beginning for me, then for my federal funds to accomplish is probably not any different in all in October, with another children, to programs years that. However, things have your communities. New Year. when I needed assistance, and OCCD Fall Quarterly Meeting • October 26 – 27, 2011 to that, I thank you. Through a By Donna D. Colglazier, OCCD Vice President recent HUD monitoring visit, the Wow, how things happen in a we do as community leaders. funds from Franklin County to Energy Effi ciency and income qualifi cation process fl ash. There I was, in my offi ce We do make a difference, even support entrepreneurship of Conservation Block Grant of Cuyahoga County received drumming along as most of if we sometimes don’t see it their local food-based industry, (EECBG) funds from the United an excellent review, and was us do, taking care of the day because of the aforementioned an industry that has seen recent States Department of Energy suggested to be shared with their to day things that make the drudgery of day to day tasks. demand in Central Ohio, as in October of 2009. The grant fellow colleagues. The income clock whiz by, while also trying What’s that saying… “You can’t consumers want to know where was used to develop a strategy qualifi cation process can be to accomplish the larger tasks see the forest, for the trees”? their food comes from, and to to reduce energy consumption cumbersome and confusing, as that scream the loudest. I think The Ohio Conference of keep their food expenditures of the City of Elyria and its there are so many variations and to myself, “I’m ahead of the Community Development will in the local community. We residents. Find out the strategies situations which impact the fi nal game. I still have two weeks to hold our fall quarterly meeting will learn about the “Growing used in this successful American numbers. Cuyahoga County fi nish the agenda and write my Wednesday, October 26th through Entrepreneurs Initiative” during Recovery and Reinvestment Act has streamlined the process, articles”. Then out of the blue, a Thursday, October 27th, 2011, this session. (ARRA) project. making the process effi cient and little germ infects my family, and at the Holiday Inn Columbus exact. Dorinda Miller, Business next thing I know, its 12 days The Village of Morrow will present Our legislative session will be Worthington. Following through their downtown revitalization presented by Pamela Hanover, Administrator of the Housing since I have stepped into my on the previous days training, the Division of Cuyahoga County offi ce, and I have one day left to overhaul. The Village was a Esq., Squire, Sanders and emphasis of the meeting is two- recipient of a Special Purpose Dempsey, L.L.P, who will bring will present the best practice of fi ll two slots in the agenda, write fold: Economic Development Income Qualifi cation. the newspaper article and cover Grant, and through that grant, us up to date information on and OCCD President Award and other various funding, has the ever changing legislative Our fall meeting will conclude with letter for the fall conference. nominee presentations. In Isn’t that the life we lead? Feast made a large scale impact for actions. breakout sessions from HUD’s addition, there will be some best their village. We will be able entitlement representatives or famine. Sickness and health. After adjourning for the day, practices sprinkled in there for to see how community and and the State of Ohio’s small Hurry up and wait. Just a few please join us at the networking fl avor. It’s always a bonus when economic development affects cities representatives. We are short years ago, we had more reception starting at 5:30 p.m. we know what HUD and ODOD our large urban areas as well as one of the few states that have money than we knew what to do If you are new to OCCD, this want from us. our small rural communities. an opportunity to meet face to with, a means to fi nally address is a great way to meet and get Speaking of ODOD, what is face with our funding agencies. some of our community’s issues After lunch break, we will have a to know your fellow OCCD going on there?!?! We have Take advantage of this time to that we couldn’t touch before. short OCCD Business Meeting, members. Enjoy some dinner been asking ourselves this for ask questions specifi c to your Now my friends, that tap has then onto nominees of the OCCD on your own or with a group quite some time, and now we community and to interact with been turned off. 2011 was the President’s Award for Innovative of colleagues, then return to have the answer… for now... your community representative. worst hit my county has ever had Programs. This year’s winner the hospitality suite for more until it changes again. Will The benefi ts to these sessions since becoming an Entitlement. was the High Bridge Glens networking or simply catching up it change again? The fi rst are immeasurable. NSP1 is about done and we’re Parks project from the City of with friends. Hospitality starts at session will involve answers to looking at additional HUD cuts. Cuyahoga Falls. See how this 8:00 p.m. Before leaving the fall those questions and more with Either way, we put things in park has been transformed from conference, please take some a representative of the new After a good nights rest, or if perspective, and do the best we a once popular entertainment time to peruse the OCCD display proposed (pending legislation) you’re like me, probably not, can with the resources we’re destination of the late 1800’s table for a current calendar Development Service Agency. please return Thursday morning given. to receiving an Ohio Historical of events and trainings. Your In addition, JobsOhio will also for a couple “Best Practices” This will be my fi rst meeting Marker in 2009, honoring its input is appreciated, both be speaking as to their economic sessions. Section 3. Section as Vice-President, and I can signifi cance to Cuyahoga Falls positive and negative, so please development initiatives and how 3. Section 3. With so much only hope to do as well as and the region. complete the surveys at the end they will interact with the new emphasis on Section 3 lately, the previous year’s agenda. of each meeting. This is your proposed (pending legislation) The Challenger League Ball Catherine Crosby, Assistant Angela did a great job, with organization and we need to Development Service Agency. Field and Handicap Accessible Director of the Dayton Human interesting topics and some hear from you. The executive Restroom facility is a multi- Relations Council has agreed to new ideas thrown in there, such Economic development doesn’t committee reviews the surveys, funded project, initiated by the return with a panel on the latest as the World Café.