Today’s #GOPCThread is a ‘guest thread’ from our partners at the @OhioRebuild Coalition, which was announced earlier this week.

Communities have worked to find innovative and strategic ways to protect residents and businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic. While crisis management is far from over, it is crucial that policymakers begin to think about how recovery will look.

As the conversation pivots to recovery, Ohio’s Main Streets, neighborhoods, businesses, employees, and residents will be the foundational building blocks to revitalizing Ohio’s communities and economy.

That’s why leading statewide nonprofits involved in economic and community development have joined together to start the Rebuilding Ohio Coalition. https://rebuildingohio.org 

. @OhioRebuild is a coalition comprised of statewide organizations that focus investing in Ohio’s communities, including @OhioCDC @HeritageOhio @CLEProgress @GreaterOhio @NeighborworksOH @FinanceFund @ECDIOH @OCCHstrong

https://rebuildingohio.org/who-we-are 

. @OhioRebuild has established a platform that provides policymakers with a blueprint for sensible policy solutions they can adopt to ensure Ohio’s families, small businesses, and neighborhoods thrive in a post-pandemic world.

The state policy platform established by @OhioRebuild aims to strengthen and revitalize Ohio’s families and businesses, and enhance Ohio’s communities as places where people want to live, work, and play. https://rebuildingohio.org/policy-platform 

To empower Ohio’s families, the blueprint provides recommendation to policymakers on housing and financial stability, as well as food security. Such recommendations include funding emergency rental assistance and establishing a state financial empowerment fund.

OH’s communities often lack capacity to effectively leverage resources. In post-pandemic economy, this will be crucial for communities as they stretch limited $. @OhioRebuild’s platform includes measures to ensure local leaders can do just that. Cc: @GreaterOhio @OhioCDC

. @OhioRebuild recognizes that investing in #Ohio communities requires targeted policies. Our blueprint identifies a few: expanding existing state business development programs to include zero-interest, patient, risk-tolerant capital. Cc: @ECDIOH @FinanceFund @OhioCDC

Additionally, to invest in Ohio’s Main Streets and downtowns, communities will need programs such as the Ohio State Historic Tax Credit and the Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund. Cc: @HeritageOhio @ECDIOH @FinanceFund @GreaterOhio @CLEProgress

The full platform can be found on the Rebuilding Ohio Coalition website, which provides detailed information for each focus area and the recommendations under each.

https://bit.ly/3iDbVA0 

The coalition’s recommendations are based on three guiding principles: ensuring recovery is equitable across the state + w/in communities; strategically & creatively deploying every dollar of relief & assistance; &, recognizing multi-sector partnerships are critical.

By investing – strategically – in Ohio families, small biz, + neighborhoods, we can ensure prosperity for all Ohioans. The economic + social impacts of COVID19 can be felt in all communities, + ensuring strategic revitalization can place Ohio on a prosperous path forward.

. @OhioRebuild looks forward to continuing the conversation with policymakers on these recommendations, and expanding to include other change-making organizations across the state in this dialogue.