Learn and Earn
greaterohioLow-Income OpportunitiesComments are off for this post

Meaningful work experience for young individuals can set them up for better work opportunities for the rest of their life. 

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Workplace experience is valuable for people just starting their careers, no matter what path they want to pursue. But these opportunities to get on-the-job experience are not easily available for all young people,  putting some at a disadvantage when it comes to finding a decent paying job. Paid job training programs for teenagers and young adults can help close that gap.  read more

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Creating a Smart Growth Economic Development Strategy
greaterohioCommunity and Strategic PlanningComments are off for this post

Smart growth economic development strategies have emerged as a successful way for postindustrial cities to anticipate and overcome challenges.

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Historically, many smaller legacy cities were heavily dependent on one or two industries and lacked a diversified economy. As a result, when those industries left or went out of business, the cities that depended on them so heavily fell into hard times. read more

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Participation Tools for Better Community Planning
greaterohioCommunity and Strategic PlanningComments are off for this post

Community and strategic planning needs meaningful public involvement to maximize the success of the resulting plans.

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In smaller legacy cities, resources are often scare and not all competing visions can be implemented successfully. But due to their smaller size, there is also greater opportunity for community-wide consensus-building about the city’s future. This shared vision requires a robust and inclusive planning process that takes into account the interests and concerns of all stakeholders. read more

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Historic Preservation Tax Credits
greaterohioRegional Focus on DowntonsComments are off for this post

Historic buildings are assets to smaller legacy cities – but funding their renovation can be difficult.

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Smaller legacy cities are often rich with history, but lack the funding to rehabilitate their historic assets into something that can drive downtown revitalization. One tool that has worked successfully across the country is the Federal Historic Preservation Tax credit. The program has leveraged over $84 billion in private investment since 1976. read more

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Main Street America
greaterohioUncategorizedComments are off for this post

Main Street America is a network 1,600 neighborhoods and commercial districts that share a commitment to building stronger communities.

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The “Main Street Approach” is centered around forming a focused and deliberate plan for revitalizing a downtown or commercial district’s economy. The approach has an explicit focus on the communities historic assets such as buildings, parks, or riverfronts. read more

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The Guidebook for Redeveloping Commercial Vacant Properties
greaterohioRegional Focus on DowntonsComments are off for this post
Commercial vacant properties in legacy cities present both unique challenges and promise. 
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Smaller legacy cities are often burdened by vacant and abandoned properties. Many resources exist to assist in dealing with residential vacancy, but few address commercial vacancy – which is just as prevalent in these cities. read more

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Partnerships between Land Banks and Community Land Trusts
greaterohioUncategorizedComments are off for this post

Land banks have a disposition problem. Land trusts have an acquisition problem.

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A land bank is a public authority created to efficiently deal with vacant and abandoned properties. A land bank acquires, holds, manages, and disposes of these vacant properties on behalf of the municipality or government entity. Cities, counties, and states provide land banks with a variety of tools that ensure the land bank can properly deal with these nuisance properties. Land banks are often given unique legal powers that help them acquire problem properties and have the expertise to match redevelopment with the long-term interests of the community. read more

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