State Supports Government Collaboration

Increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of local government is one of the four priorities of Advance Northeast Ohio and the State of Ohio is an invaluable ally in that effort.

Today, the state announced six grants to governments in Northeast Ohio to encourage greater government collaboration and efficiency. Communities that won the grants include:

Ashland County will receive an $80,000 grant to conduct a study to estimate the implementation and maintenance costs of providing a collaborative high-speed Internet service for Ashland County, its municipalities, villages, and townships. The Internet service will increase opportunities for economic development, provide more efficient emergency management, and better access to public services such as county Web sites and Geographic Information Systems.

The Village of Carrollton (Carroll County) will receive a $75,000 grant to conduct a feasibility study that will assess the potential for cooperation of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) services. The study will research, identify, evaluate, and make recommendations for end-user needs, GIS software, GPS units, personnel requirements, project costs, and project implementation plans.

The City of Cleveland (Cuyahoga County) will receive a $38,751 grant to study regional collaboration on energy efficiency through Smart Metering. Smart Metering uses utility meters that allow users to see and record consumption and cost in real-time.

Lorain County will receive an $80,000 grant to conduct a storm water management study that will investigate the options and feasibility of alternatives to the existing fragmented approach by individual governments to address flood control issues. The goal is to implement a storm water management plan that will save local governments money, promote regional collaboration and cooperation, and enhance compliance with Ohio laws and EPA regulations for water quality.

The City of Parma (Cuyahoga County) will receive a $41,174 grant to perform a feasibility study to consolidate several municipal emergency medical services into one dispatch facility. The study will include an implementation plan that will delineate specific aspects of operating a regional center.

The City of Youngstown (Mahoning County) will receive an $80,000 grant to conduct a feasibility study that will establish a regional urban economic development and brownfield revitalization plan. The study will establish a strategy to create a sustainable revenue stream for the eight incorporated communities along the Mahoning River corridor through economic development, enhanced public recreational amenities, and conservation measures.

These grants were awarded by the Department of Development. What other government collaboration and efficiency efforts to you think should happen in your community?