Monday, July 22, 2013YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The VibrantNEO initiative is coming to the Mahoning Valley over the next few weeks to provide a look at alternative scenarios for the Northeast Ohio region, and give residents a chance to help shape the region's future.
At two Aug. 6 open houses, Vibrant NEO will present possible alternatives for the region depending on which approaches are adopted and how resources are allocated. The Valley events are scheduled for 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the Raymond John Wean Foundation, Warren, and for 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the Oh Wow! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science & Technology.
“These open houses are a great opportunity for Northeast Ohio residents to make sure their voices are heard,” said Hunter Morrison, executive director of the Northeastern Ohio Sustainable Communities Consortium. The events are “informal opportunities to learn about different futures” for the region, he said, and are part of the year-long VibrantNEO 2040 process to create a more vibrant, sustainable and resilient future for the region.
“The open houses will provide a great deal of information, including projections for different trends that envision different ways of doing things in Northeast Ohio -- growing in the same ways we have been, managing growth in different ways, etc.,” said Jon Benedict, vice president of R Strategy Group, Cleveland, which is working with NEOSCC. “Much of this material has been developed by NEOSCC and its planning consultant, Sasaki Associates. We will also look closely at data that residents have submitted at earlier workshops and through the ImagineMyNEO online planning tool. That input, along with feedback at these open houses, all goes toward helping to define a vision for Northeast Ohio's future, a framework that NEOSCC will be presenting at the next round of workshops in September.”
In advance of the two weeks of open houses, VibrantNEO will launch a series of events bringing its ImagineMyNEO online planning tool to venues throughout the region.Local events are scheduled for 5-7 p.m. uly 24 at the Lemon Grove and 5-9 p.m. July 25 at the Mahoning Valley Scrappers game.
“The ImagineMyNEO events are small get-togethers or tables at community events to introduce the online tool to the public,” said Jeff Anderle, NEOSCC manager of communications and engagement. The upcoming event at the Lemon Grove, for example, will focus on giving attendees an opportunity to play Imagine MyNEO using iPads NEOSCC will bring as well as to preview the open houses.”
Registration is encouraged but not required for the Aug. 6 open houses in Warren and Youngstown.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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