The Impact Award honors NADO members for their creative approaches to advancing regional economic development and improved quality of life.
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) was awarded the 2021 Aliceann Wohlbruck NADO (National Association of Development Organizations) Impact Award for its Regional Housing Strategy. The strategy is a collaborative public-private partnership that seeks to address Central Ohio’s housing needs. MORPC was among the 2021 class, consisting of 102 projects from 70 organizations spanning 24 states announced last week during NADO’s 2021 Training Conference held in Portland, Oregon.
“We’re honored that NADO has recognized the Regional Housing Strategy with an Impact Award,” said Jennifer Noll, principal planner, MORPC. “With its vision of housing as a platform for equitable growth and recovery, the strategy reflects the collaborative effort of dozens of communities and organizations to advance economic competitiveness and quality of life in Central Ohio.”
Released in 2020, the Regional Housing Strategy creates a roadmap for addressing Central Ohio’s housing shortage. In addition to identifying data contributing to the issue and making recommendations for setting priorities, the study provides an implementer’s toolkit for action.
“The Regional Housing Strategy set the tone for Central Ohio partners to thoughtfully study one of our region's greatest challenges, and subsequently develop a blueprint for moving forward as a collective. This recognition for the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission's work is not only merited because of the incredible effort and leadership that went into executing the project amongst numerous stakeholders, but it is inspirational as we continue our efforts to equitably transform housing in Columbus and throughout our region."
The Impact Awards program honors NADO members for their creative approaches to advancing regional economic development and improved quality of life. These projects have made significant impacts on their regions and demonstrate the diversity of services and program delivery provided by regional development organizations across the country.
“This past decade has been one of historic growth for the Columbus Region, and that growth will continue. Housing solutions are critical to maintaining our position as a competitive market, and achieving the vision to make Columbus the most prosperous region in the U.S.”
The NADO Impact Awards are presented in honor of the late Aliceann Wohlbruck who was NADO’s first executive director and served 24 years as a tireless champion for regional approaches to economic development in rural communities.
NADO is a Washington, DC- based membership association of regional development organizations that promote programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities, and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery, and comprehensive strategies.
“During the past 20 months regional development organizations across the country have shown just how valuable they are in supporting the local communities they serve,” said 2019-2021 NADO President Kevin Byrd, executive director of the New River Valley Regional Commission, located in Radford, VA. “From COVID-19 response and recovery initiatives, to workforce and economic development projects, to social services program and much more, the 2021 NADA Impact Awardees highlight the many ways our members work on the ground every day to improve quality of life in their regions.”
To learn more about the Regional Housing Strategy, visit www.morpc.org/rhs. To learn more about the National Association of Development Organizations, click here. To view the interactive Story Map developed by NADO that includes project summaries, partners, and images, click here.
