What We Do
Preserving and investing in Ohio’s legacy city regions, supports a tremendous number of Ohio institutions that contribute to our economy and make communities more attractive for residents, employers, and capital. Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) is a recognized expert on Ohio’s legacy cities and work directly with them to revitalize this engines of prosperity.
Responsible Growth, Sustained Prosperity
Greater Ohio Policy Center’s 2025-2026 Public Policy Agenda
Support and Reward Planning and Responsible Growth
At the end of the day, all development is local. Local government leaders are eager to bring new residential, commercial, and industrial development to their community, but may not always have the expertise or financial resources needed to reach these goals. Sixty percent of the state’s GDP comes from counties that are expected to experience population contraction; responsible growth and the state’s partnership with these places will be essential for their long-term prosperity.
Invest in long-range local development planning.
Ohio’s cities and rural counties need comprehensive, long-range, development plans. Such blueprints for future prosperity should be based on realistic expectations around population trends and economic development opportunities. These types of plans will then help local leaders make strategic investments in roads, water, sewer, recreation, schools and other public facilities. Development plans will also help attract new housing and economic development, and protect against haphazard and unsustainable growth, which can detract from the quality of life.
It is in the best interest of the state to provide
financial and technical assistance to communities that want to do comprehensive development planning—this will ensure that state programs and resources are going to projects that build local, sustainable prosperity.
Ensure all new programs have adequate planning dollars, and funding that empowers local governments to access and learn skills they need to make the program effective.
Development and business attraction are not easy in the current economic environment. Financing can be complicated and community leaders are often stretched thin with multiple obligations. Allowing all new programs to reserve funds to help communities plan the use of the dollars or learn the skills needed to make the program effective will guarantee the success of the state’s investments in local communities.
Adjust state programs and policies to better serve all of Ohio’s regions and their communities.
Ohio has a number of existing programs and policies that are targeted to communities with elevated rates of poverty, or smaller population numbers, or are located in historically distressed regions. These policies, which are sensitive to local context, create a level playing field. Adjusting more existing programs and future programs to be sensitive to the opportunities and challenges of Ohio’s legacy places and growing areas will ensure no community is left behind.
Eventually, as more communities adopt long-range development plans, Ohio can follow the lead of other states and provide “bonus points” to cities with development plans that compete for state investment.
What We Have Accomplished
GOPC works with local, state, and national partners to develop and advance policies and practices that support legacy cities: those places that have lost significant population and manufacturing. GOPC uses its expertise and networks to ensure that Ohio’s legacy cities have the resources and policies they need to:
Build vibrant downtowns and attractive commercial corridors
Create stable neighborhoods for all residents
Support entrepreneurs and small businesses
Help residents build wealth and become self-sufficient
Advocating for Legacy Cities
Ohio has over 22 legacy cities and dozens of legacy towns and villages. These places are home to millions of residents and thousands of businesses. GOPC educates state policymakers on the challenges and opportunities found in Ohio’s legacy cities and advocates for sensible state policies and programs that can help our cities—and thus the state—stabilize and thrive.
Research & Sharing Best Practices
GOPC is a nationally recognized expert on legacy city revitalization, particularly in the context of small and mid-sized legacy cities (those places that currently have 30,000 to 250,000 residents). GOPC regularly produces research briefs, policy reports, webinars, and presentations to elevate best practices and innovative solutions that local leaders can utilize in their communities.
Improving the Quality of Life in Our Cities
Ohio’s legacy cities have walkable neighborhoods and street/utility infrastructure that can support dense development. GOPC provides recommendations and strategies to local communities on ways to invest in features that support healthy, sustainable, amenity-rich environments. Additionally, GOPC works in partnership with other state-based advocates to advocate for state policies that support place-based investments that improve the quality of life in our cities, and limit unsustainable real estate development patterns
Nurturing a Community of Practice: Reinvention Cities Network
Since 2017, GOPC has stewarded and staffed the Reinvention Cities Network, a community of practice for small legacy city leaders who live in cities with 15,000 to 65,000 residents. The Reinvention Cities Network’s bipartisan membership comes from the private, philanthropic, nonprofit, and public sectors. The Reinvention Cities Network meets quarterly to identify challenges shared among member cities, learn from each other, and suggest concrete tactics and strategies. In 2018, the Reinvention Cities Network released “A Vision for Ohio’s Reinvention Cities,” which charts a bold vision for the future of Ohio’s small legacy cities. More than 30 organizations endorsed the Vision, which continues to influence GOPC’s organizational policy platform. For more about the Reinvention Cities Network, view the one pager and brochure.
Helping Communities Overcome the Appraisal Gap
The weak real estate markets in many Ohio communities often appear risky to investors who worry that they will recoup the costs they put into rehabbing a commercial building or residential property. GOPC provides recommendations for strengthening local real estate markets, which includes increasing access to risk-tolerant capital. Among other activities, GOPC staffs and stewards the Ohio CDFI Network, a membership organization of community development financial institutions (CDFIs). CDFIs provide capital and financing in places and to businesses that traditional banks are unable to serve. GOPC also advocates for state policies that make it easier for local leaders to improve their downtowns and commercial corridors, as well as champions state programs that provide flexible grants and low-interest loans for downtowns and quality of life features in residential neighborhoods.
Get to Know Ohio’s Great Legacy Cities & Towns
Related Publications
Equitable Development in America’s Smaller Legacy Cities
May 2021
Legacy cities can promote long-term growth while addressing racial and economic inequities laid bare by COVID-19 using strategies mapped out in this Policy Focus Report, produced in collaboration with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. Using case studies of successful initiatives, the report guides practitioners through equitable investment in both physical projects and people.
Impact of Repealing Emergency Municipal Income Tax Provisions
April 2021
For over six decades, working Ohioans have paid income taxes to the jurisdiction where they work. Recognizing the unprecedented situation created by the pandemic, the Governor and Legislature established the emergency measure to minimize burdensome paperwork on businesses and moderate the financial impacts of the pandemic on cities. In two reports, GOPC shows how attempts to repeal the emergency response are short-sighted and will seriously threaten Ohio’s large and small communities, jeopardizing Ohio’s economic competitiveness.
From Akron to Zanesville: How Are Ohio’s Small and Mid-Sized Legacy Cities Faring?
June 2016, Last Updated January 2020
Ohio’s small and mid-sized legacy cities—older industrial cities with populations greater than 20,000 situated in metropolitan areas with less than 1 million residents—are important contributors to Ohio’s economy and social fabric. Like Ohio’s larger legacy cities—Cincinnati and Cleveland—these cities faced decades of serious challenges stemming from population loss and the decline of large-scale manufacturing that were further compounded by the Great Recession.
Revitalizing America's Smaller Legacy Cities
August 2017
In this report published by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, authors Hollingsworth and Goebel examine the trajectories of 24 smaller legacy cities across 7 states from 2000 to 2015. Five Ohio cities are included in the report – Akron, Dayton, Hamilton, Lima, and Youngstown. The authors found that while many of these cities are facing severe challenges, strong and collaborative local leadership can help these communities forge a path forward.
Recent Testimony
Additional Resources
www.legacycities.org
GOPC contributed content to this national website of best practices and research, hosted by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
www.ohiocdfis.org
This website contains more information about Ohio’s community development financial institutions. GOPC proudly staffs the Ohio CDFI Network.
Rebuilding With Equity: The Future Of Smaller Legacy Cities
July 2021
This webinar builds on the Policy Focus Report Equitably Developing America's Smaller Legacy Cities: Investing in Residents from South Bend to Worcester—focusing on why equitable development is a sound strategy for smaller legacy cities today. Practitioners share stories from legacy cities that are already embracing equity and inclusion; they articulate why equity is an important goal for them and what equitable development looks like in the smaller legacy city context. View this webinar.
Preparing a Successful Bid for Capital Budget Dollars webinar
September 2019
In partnership with Heritage Ohio and the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, GOPC hosted a webinar providing communities with a “101 on the Capital Budget”, and examples of small communities utilizing capital budget dollars for thoughtfully planned projects, including their planning steps and process to secure funds. View this webinar and slides.
Testimony provided to the House Ways & Means Committee on Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
Learn more about Senate Bill 225.