OCCD 2022 Spring Meeting

Today is the first day of spring, and I have a few daffodils braving the weather.  We can wish it will get warmer every day, but Ohio is known for surprising us with the weather, so maybe don’t put those sweaters in storage yet.  Hopefully, by April 27, we won’t be dealing with snow, so everyone can attend our Spring 2022 meeting.  That’s right—we are going to have a real, in person meeting, with an opportunity to see old friends and make new ones!  For those of you who still aren’t comfortable attending, all sessions will be offered virtually too. 

The Spring meeting will be one day on April 27^th, but we are going to kick off with a networking reception the evening before (April 26^th), from 5-7. 

The day will be packed with 6 sessions of information, and time to chat at lunch.  ODOD and HUD Field Office breakouts will be held virtually on Thursday via Zoom. 

Since April is Fair Housing Month, we thought it appropriate to begin with that topic.  John Zimmerman of Miami Valley Fair Housing Center will provide the newest information about how to affirmatively further fair housing while assisting our communities with federal funds.  He’ll give us updates on regulations and guidance issued by the federal government and review a regional Analysis of Impediments completed in Ohio. 

Next, we have invited Shaundretta Boykins, the Manager of Business Solutions
Minority Business Development Division, to share a new source of business lending,  the Women’s Business Enterprise Loan Program. She will provide details on this assistance available to women entrepreneurs here in Ohio and tell you why you may want to have more women owned businesses in your community.   

And our last session of the morning should be very inspiring.  Rich Ebert, Champaign Economic Partnership director will share their Successful Implementation Project:  the conversion of two elementary schools and a hotel in Urbana into senior living facilities, known as Legacy Place Apartment Housing. I’m a huge supporter of repurposing buildings, so I am looking forward to this one.

Lunch will follow, with our business meeting immediately afterward. 

Tony Core, from Squire Patton Boggs, will present immediately after lunch, to give us his always insightful legislative update.

After Tony is another Fair Housing presentation on Best Practices, with Arica Alvarez of Maumee Valley Planning Authority and Karen Sprague of Gallia County sharing some of the creative ways they educate their communities about Fair Housing, and ensure the residents know where to seek help if they believe they have been treated unfairly. 

Last, we are very pleased to host Linda Bailiff of Ohio Public Works Commission.  OPWC supports many infrastructure projects in our communities, and far too many of us are unaware of this programming.  Linda will share lots of information about OPWC, the funding process, and how it may be used to bring some projects across the finish line.

I am so looking forward to seeing everyone on April 27.  Details for registration for both in-person and virtual attendance are posted on the OCCD website. 

Terri Fetherolf, OCCD Vice President