Blogs

Ladies and gentleman, I present to you the EfficientGovNow class of 2010. The Fund for Our Economic Future received 50 government collaboration projects involving 380 total partners from 15 counties in the Northeast Ohio region  all  looking to compete for EfficientGovNow awards.

The government collaboration ideas submitted in the second round of EfficientGovNow cover an array of collaboration and efficiency opportunities ranging from regional information technology systems and green energy to shared facilities and storm water systems. Journalist Bob Paynter looks at trends among the 50 projects here. Although less numerous that last year's batch of applicants, a closer look at the project abstract, as Paynter does here, reveals a Northeast Ohio  region developing creative ways to collaborate.

Full proposals are not due until April 19 and a committee is currently in the process of reviewing the project abstracts to make sure that they meet the criteria. To help, you are encouraged to read through the projects and provide your insights and opinions. Head over the to Proposal section of the EfficientGovNow website here to read and comment on all 50 projects.

The second round of the EfficientGovNow competitive grants program is off and running. The deadline for project abstracts is today at 5 p.m. but they have already received abstracts for many unique collaborative projects.

To take a closer look at all of these government collaboration projects in the works throughout Northeast Ohio, EfficientGovNow has retained Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bob Paynter. Over the next few months, Paynter will be reporting on important issues related to local government efficiency, helping explain to the region the role local government plays in the economic competitiveness, and cover the various government collaborations that are seeking grant dollars from EfficientGovNow. Read Paynter's take on his mission here.

Paynter's first assignment: to follow up on the the three winners of the first round of EfficientGovNow. Read here how EfficientGovNow not only helped get these projects off the ground, but also helped to change the mindset and attitudes of all the communities involved.

Watch video excerpts of Paynter's conversations with each Round 1 finalist below, learn more about him here, and join in the conversation this spring.

The Ohio Commission on Local Government Reform and Collaboration is developing recommendations on ways to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of local government operations to achieve cost savings to taxpayers and to facilitate economic development.
 
The work of the commission focuses on three areas:

• Identification of options for encouraging and incentivizing local government to collaborate
• Identification of local tax structure changes which would encourage collaboration or improve service effectiveness
• Identification of current/alternative service delivery models 

The commission actively encourages government officials, residents and others to share recommendations and best practices—either in writing or by participating in their meetings/public hearings. Last December, the Fund for Our Economic Future testified before the commission at a hearing held at the Cleveland Public Library. The next such event takes place February 26 at Malone University in Canton.
 
Learn more about the upcoming event in Canton and details about the commission at http://www.ohioreformandcollaboration.org/.

From the EfficientGovNow Blog:

A week ahead of the abstract deadline, the second round of EfficientGovNow has received five project abstracts. We’re excited to see an impressive number of communities involved in each of the project ideas we’ve seen so far:

• jddrake's blog
• Add new comment
• Read more

As the proposals continue to roll in for the second round of EfficientGovNow, we are excited to see Northeast Ohio governments find creative, yet simple ways to collaborate efficiently and reduce spending in the process.

To continue the regional discussion around government collaboration and efficiency, Kent State University will be hosting a forum to understand intergovernmental collaboration opportunities for the future of Northeast Ohio. The forum will be held this Wednesday, February 10, from 3:30 pm-6:30 pm at Moulton Hall on the Kent State Main Campus. Speakers will include:

Despite the national recession, 2009 was a successful year for Northeast Ohio's entrepreneurial community. Partner in Advance Northeast Ohio JumpStart highlights some of the great progress the region's emerging companies made in the past year in the video below.