Executive
Director's
Update
| | | MVRPC Hosts Open House for New Office at 6 N. Main | | |
On June 17, 2025, MVRPC proudly opened the doors to our new office at 6 North Main Street, Suite 400, in downtown Dayton for a special Open House event. We were thrilled to welcome so many of our valued Board members, community partners, and local leaders as we celebrated this new chapter together. Guests had the opportunity to explore our newly designed workspace and tour our conference and collaboration areas. We want to thank everyone who attended and helped make the event such a memorable one.
If you were unable to attend, we welcome you to stop by anytime to say hello or contact Savannah Diamond sdiamond@mvrpc.org to schedule a visit.
| | The MVRPC Team Visits Preble County Seniors Center | | |
We had a great time meeting with Preble County Area Agency on Aging. Executive Director Shelley Ratliff and transit manager Amy Taulbee took great care of us and told us about the services that they offer at their center. We also had a tour of the very impressive facility.
The spirit of innovation was apparent as they work to serve the needs of the county’s valuable residents by partnering with Eaton and Preble County on transportation and other needs. They're really helping their residents live where they want to be.
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They have 24 transit vans and have outgrown their storage facility and are in need of a new facility to house and maintain their fleet. They have outgrown their maintenance facility and they are exploring opportunities to build a new one on site. There is a large lunch hall dining facility where the general public can eat and they have a game room and other services where county residents may participate daily or through memberships in addition to those who live in the facility. The partnership on the 44 single bedroom apartments is with Saint Mary development corporation in Dayton, an awesome partnership on part of their 30 acres.
Serena Anderson will get back to the ladies on possible transit grant opportunities and Arnie Biondo will get back to them on Delmar Fellow and Dayton Foundation opportunities to help them continue their age friendly pursuits.
I hope that we can work together to create beneficial projects for our residents.
| | MVRPC Designated “SolSmart Bronze” for Solar Energy Actions | | |
MVRPC received a Bronze designation from the national SolSmart program for encouraging the growth of affordable solar energy options at the Regional level. This designation was achieved just four months after the MVRPC Board of Directors endorsed our SolSmart Solar Statement at its February meeting.
To achieve SolSmart Bronze designation, MVRPC hosted a training on including best practices for Solar PV and Battery Storage in Planning and Zoning documents. This was the featured presentation in this year’s Climate Planning Seminar. MVRPC also hosted training for permitting and inspection staff on best practices for permitting solar energy and solar-plus storage systems. These trainings were made available online to all communities in the Miami Valley, as a practical step for preparing Miami Valley communities for a community-first energy transition.
One additional pre-requisite for bronze designation was the creation of a solar landing page on the MVRPC web site. I invite you to take a look at our page, to find data and resources about how communities, businesses, and residents can tap into this natural resource for clean energy.
“As a regional organization, the most important outcome from our work through SolSmart will be to see more communities in the Miami Valley also achieve designation and make their plans, zoning and permitting processes more solar-friendly,” said MVRPC Executive Director Brian Martin. If your community would like to explore this path with MVRPC, please contact Leslie King, at lking@mvrpc.org.
SolSmart is led by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office. Over 500 cities, towns, counties, and regional organizations have achieved SolSmart designation since the program launched in 2016. SolSmart designees are now in 44 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Any city, town, county, and regional organization is eligible to join the program. Interested communities can learn more at SolSmart.org.
| | MVRPC Releases the Regional Food System Dashboard | | |
MVRPC is delighted to share the completion of the Regional Food Systems Overview Dashboard, the interactive data and information tool complementing the Regional Food Systems Overview report published as part of MVRPC’s PLAN4Health – Miami Valley last fall.
The Regional Food Systems Dashboard provides comprehensive food systems data at both county and regional levels for our 6+ county region that allows users to examine food assets, security, and access across the Miami Valley. Each corresponding topic within the Regional Food Systems Overview Dashboard includes a series of responsive maps, charts, and infographics. Users may also click on the maps to view a pop-up with more detailed information on each subject.
MVRPC’s PLAN4Health – Miami Valley Initiative was launched in the Spring of 2021 to explore how planning can impact health outcomes. The PLAN4Health - Miami Valley Initiative is a multi-year effort with a focus on projects and programs intended to:
- Promote and advocate for “Health in All Plans and Policies”
- Convene and engage partners to improve conditions that are known to be key determinants of health
- Advance planning efforts aimed at creating conditions for healthy people and communities
For additional information regarding PLAN4Health - Miami Valley Initiative, contact Martin Kim, MVRPC’s Director of Community and Regional Planning, at mkim@mvrpc.org.
| | The Miami Valley’s Future Economic Outlook | | |
MVRPC staff attended a series of events in June hosted by the Dayton Business Journal that brought together experts from across the Region to discuss future economic impact, strengthening workforce, as well as growth and development opportunities. The Rideshare Program was an associate sponsor of the Workforce Development Forum, promoting the Gohio Commute platform to business leaders attending the workforce forum. Gohio Commute helps connect commuters to carpool options, transit and bike route planning and more. Business leaders can position this service as an employee benefit to help their team save money, reduce stress, and contribute to a healthier environment. Learn more at MiamiValleyRideshare.org.
MVRPC also partnered with the Dayton Development Coalition to host a resource workshop providing local economic development practitioners with information on how to access funding opportunities which support priorities identified in the Dayton Region Economic Development Strategy and better serving small businesses. Representatives from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, U.S. Small Business Administration and the Springfield Small Business Development Center showcased best practices, offered tips for competitive project applications, and gave insight on how local communities can refer small businesses to the proper resources.
| | | | In partnership with the Dayton Development Coalition, MVRPC will update the Dayton Region Economic Development Strategy in 2026 and looks forward to the input from members to help identify the region’s strengths, opportunities, threats, and set strategic priorities to ensure our region remains resilient. To learn more about the strategy and planning process, visit MVRPC’s Regional Economic Development Planning webpage or contact Elizabeth Baxter, Resiliency Planning Manager, 937-531-6538 or ebaxter@mvrpc.org | | Grants and Funding Resources | | |
On a monthly basis, MVRPC highlights several funding opportunities for eligible cities, counties, and townships on our website that could benefit communities in the Region. We include a description, contact information, and program links. We have also listed other valuable resources for funding opportunities for our regional jurisdictions and organizations. See more at: mvrpc.org/grant-and-funding-opportunities
This month, we are featuring information on:
- Cemetery Grants– Deadline: July 31, 2025
- The Kettering Fund– Deadline: July 31, 2025
If you have any questions, please contact Kathryn Youra Polk at kyourapolk@mvrpc.org.
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MiamiValleyGovJobs.org is a one-stop website for candidates seeking positions with a public agency in the Miami Valley. This service is provided to MVRPC member organizations and partners at no cost. Posting your positions on MiamiValleyGovJobs.org increases the visibility of your positions and expands your candidate pool. Each job post will be displayed with your organization's logo and a link to your website where candidates can find more information. To post a position with your organization, please email your posting to JobBoard@mvrpc.org.
| | Upcoming Meetings and Events | | BroadbandOhio & BEAD Information Session | | |
Join MVRPC on Tuesday, July 8th at 2:00 p.m. for an informational session on the BEAD Program; the largest federal investment to date in broadband infrastructure across the nation. A total allocation of $793 million will be implemented throughout Ohio for broadband infrastructure deployment to connect approximately 117,000 locations throughout the state. This allocation includes workforce development funding, supporting the growing demand for skilled broadband professionals. Hear directly from BroadbandOhio representatives, connect with other stakeholders and local jurisdictions, and get better informed on how this opportunity impacts your community.
This Information Session will be held Tuesday, July 8th at 2:00 p.m. at MVRPC. (6 N. Main Street, Suite 400, Dayton, OH 45402). Register to attend the BEAD Information Session. Contact Fabrice Juin at fjuin@mvrpc.org for more information.
| | Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Stakeholder Meeting | | |
MVRPC is developing a Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Safety Action Plan to enhance safety and prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries in the Miami Valley. The SS4A program makes funding available for planning and implementation efforts. In order to be eligible for implementation dollars, jurisdictions must be covered by a compliant safety action plan. MVRPC’s Safety Action Plan will allow local jurisdictions to access future implementation funds.
In order to collect input and provide project information, MVRPC is inviting elected officials, technical experts, and other interested parties within our MPO communities to participate in a stakeholder meeting to review a range of safety analyses and provide insights on roadway safety issues.
This stakeholder meeting will be held Thursday, July 17th, 2025 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Dayton Realtors (1515 S. Main Street, Dayton, OH 45409). Register to attend the SS4A Stakeholder meeting.
To learn more about the SS4A Safety Action Plan, please visit: www.mvrpc.org/ss4a. If you have any questions, please contact Elizabeth Whitaker at 937.531.6541 or by email at ewhitaker@mvrpc.org
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