Event Shares Bold Regional Vision For Central Ohio Growth
"Central Ohio is growing, and with it comes responsibility to ensure it lifts up every corner of the region. By leaning into regional collaboration on transportation, housing, and economic development, we can ensure that as we grow bigger, we grow better—strengthening communities whether rural, suburban, or urban."
The annual event themed, Future Forward: Building a Region Ready to Compete, welcomed keynote speaker Greg Lindsay, a nonresident senior fellow with Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Future Urban Collectives Lab, Arizona State University’s Threatcasting Lab, and the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security.
“Central Ohio is building something rare in America right now — real economic momentum, a commitment to housing abundance, and a transit vision most metros twice its size lack.The next challenge is to match that ambition with the kind of places people want to live — connected neighborhoods, diverse housing options, and communities where people know their neighbors. That’s what separates a region that grows from one that thrives.”
“You are about as well positioned as any place in the country to have passenger rail that connects your state, that connects this region and that will be an economic development boom like you’ve never seen before."
- William H. Anderson Excellence in Public Service Award: Presented to Delaware County Commissioner Jeff Benton for his exceptional leadership and commitment to smart regional growth since 2015. A lifelong Delaware County resident, Benton has focused on financial oversight, community development, and public service. Link to award video.
- William C. Habig Collaborative Achievement Award: Honored the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board of Franklin County for the groundbreaking Franklin County Crisis Center, a 24/7 “no-wrong-door” facility for mental health and addiction support. The center aims to reduce emergency room burdens with 23-hour observation, stabilization and connections to community resources. Link to award video.
- Regional Leadership Award: Awarded to Dublin Mayor Chris Amorose Groomes, recognizing her visionary work as MORPC Chair and her advocacy for federal technology and infrastructure investments. Mayor Amorose Groomes is MORPC’s longest serving Chair. Link to award video.
