Columbus, Ohio - Leadership Ohio, the state's premier leadership development program that connects diverse leaders from across Ohio to promote positive change, is pleased to announce the selection of 8 locations for its highly anticipated 2023 program. The cities and regions selected for this year's program include Newark, Toledo, Bellefontaine, Sandusky, Columbus, Akron/Canton, Marysville, and Southeast Ohio.
The selection process for Leadership Ohio's 2023 program locations were chosen based on several criteria. These criteria included the degree and/or intensity of transformation, the strength of the local community, the innovation of local leadership, and the unique experiences and opportunities each location offered.
"We were incredibly impressed with the caliber of each featured location, including several that are new to our program," said Leadership Ohio executive director Dr. Lisa Duty. "The eight locations we selected are a mix of the unique and extraordinary - small towns, appalachian communities, and urban cities - and we are confident that they will provide our Fellows with a range of experiences and insights that will inspire impact in their own communities."
Leadership Ohio's program is designed to engage its Fellows in in-depth explorations of critical questions, challenges, and opportunities facing Ohio and its people. Participants will have the opportunity to connect closely with community leaders, elected officials, and business executives from across the state. Importantly, Fellows will build impactful relationships with other leaders from around the state with goals for lasting change.
"We are thrilled to announce the selection of these eight locations for our 2023 program," said James W. Murray, president of the board of trustees, Leadership Ohio. "Each of these locations has a history, culture, and a set of issues that will equip our Fellows with knowledge and understanding for solving the intractable challenges facing the state."
The List:
[April 21-22] Newark, situated in east-central Ohio 35 miles east of Columbus, is located along the western edge of the Appalachian plateau in Licking County. Newark’s selection is a testament to the significant changes the city has undergone in recent years, including a revitalized downtown area, a thriving arts community, and numerous recreational opportunities. Earlier this year, the National Park Service officially nominated Ohio’s Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks in Newark for inclusion on the prestigious World Heritage list, which recognizes the earth’s most significant cultural and natural attractions. Intel is currently building a $20 billion semiconductor plant in Licking County, marking it the largest economic event in Ohio history.
[May 19-20] Toledo, located in northwest Ohio, is a city with a strong industrial heritage and a diverse economy. The Glass City is home to local gems including the Toledo Museum of Art, the Toledo Zoo, The Toledo Symphony Orchestra and the University of Toledo. The community of more than 30 neighborhoods has made national news by establishing a Metropark within 5 miles of every resident, taking up the charge to make Toledo the most disability friendly city in America, and passing landmark legislation - with Lucas County - to allocate $1.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) resources to medical debt forgiveness.
[June 23-24] Bellefontaine, located in Logan County, is a small city with a big heart recognized by Ohio Magazine as one of Ohio’s Best Hometowns. Downtown Bellefontaine’s redevelopment, championed by civic actors like Small Nation, the Chamber of Commerce, Richwood Bank, and a town full of hard working people with a big vision for progress, has been recognized statewide and nationally. Over the last 12 years, Small Nation has purchased and redeveloped 56+ historic buildings and storefronts, opened or recruited seven eateries, and invested over $30 million of private capital in the downtown, turning Downtown Bellefontaine into a best-in-state destination featuring award-winning restaurants and shops. In Ohio’s Most Loveable Downtown, you will find America’s Shortest Street, First Concrete Street, and more exciting destinations.
[July 21-22] Sandusky/Erie County, located on the shores of Lake Erie, is a community with a rich maritime history and a strong tourism industry contributing nearly $2 billion in economic activity to the region annually. Boasting a statewide reputation as a symbol of the revitalization of post-industrial cities, Sandusky has prioritized neighborhood improvement strategies, downtown revitalization, and the dramatic transformation of its Jackson Street Pier into an energetic waterfront public space with dynamic programming. Erie County is home to the NASA Neil Armstrong Test Facility and Kelleys Island, and Sandusky is home to Cedar Point, one of the world's largest amusement parks. A true innovator, Sandusky received national attention for making Election Day a paid holiday by swapping out Columbus Day, one of several initiatives designed to make the city a more welcoming and inclusive community. In 2023, Sandusky was named USA Today’s “best coastal small town” in the United States.
[August 18-19] Columbus, the Capital City, is the 14th largest city in the U.S. It is known for its friendly and open atmosphere (ranked the No. 3 most livable city by Far & Wide 2023) and its vibrant, diverse economy and people. Columbus is home to a thriving arts and culture scene (COSI, Ohio History Connection, National Veterans Memorial and Museum), The Ohio State University, Nationwide Children's Hospital, and numerous corporate headquarters. Leadership Ohio focuses its study on the state capital’s influential and elected leaders, from the Ohio General Assembly, Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, and the Ohio Supreme Court and through statewide leadership of the Offices of the Ohio Secretary of State and Ohio Attorney General. The Capital City session engages with the power players who advocate for issues and people, push through policy proposals, affect popular perceptions, and cause ideological change. As the heart of the heart of it all, Columbus is also host to this year’s annual Leadership Ohio Alumni Homecoming celebration.
[September 22-23] Akron Canton Metroplex, located in northeast Ohio, has 1.2 million people in its combined MSAs and shares connected assets like the Akron-Canton Airport, the I-77 Corridor, and several unique visitor attractions like the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Gervasi Vineyard. Canton shines with startups like Society Brands and Block Bridge Capital (Crypto) as Akron drives global innovation as a center for the world’s polymer industry (Goodyear Company, University of Akron) alongside leaders like Babcock and Wilcox and J.W. Didado Electric. Akron recently received $1M to reimagine the Akron Innerbelt known as the "road to nowhere” as it edged out 300 U.S. cities for a $1 million grant in a first-ever federal program helping communities damaged by past racially discriminatory transportation decisions. Investments from the Knight Foundation support cutting edge innovations such as Signal Akron and Akron Civic Commons that are connecting & bringing economically diverse neighborhoods together, while The Lebron James Family Foundation recently launched House 330.
[October 20-21] Southeast Ohio, a rural region of the state, is home to numerous small towns with a strong sense of community and a deep connection to the land. Communities are nestled within the rolling hills of Appalachia, and the region is home to numerous forests, wildlife areas, and state parks (John Glenn Astronomy Park, Hocking Hills). “Little Cities of Black Diamonds” present an arresting view of the historic coal mining towns of the Appalachia region and offers gems such as the Tecumseh Theater (Shawnee), Black Diamond Distillery (New Straitsville), and the (Nelsonville) Stuarts Opera House and Historic Town Square. A robust civic society is advancing workforce and leadership development (Hocking College, Ohio University), entrepreneurism (ACENet and Rural Action), and closing the region’s philanthropy gap (Foundation For Appalachian Ohio). History and tomorrow live side by side in places like Mount Zion Baptist Church Preservation Society, that is building a future for the Black community of southeast Ohio.
[November 17-18] The Beta District - Dublin, Marysville, Union County and Columbus - is more than a physical location, more than an innovation corridor, and more than a single headline-making project. It’s an ecosystem that provides an ideal platform for innovation. The Beta District is home to Ohio's 33 Smart Corridor, the world’s most unique proving ground – and airspace – for smart mobility technology. Along the corridor lies rapidly growing, top-rated, and internationally recognized suburban and exurban communities where you will find one of the largest concentrations of STEM talent, advanced manufacturing, logistics, and automotive integrators in the Midwest. The #2 area in the U.S. for auto production, American Honda Motor Co. and the Transportation Research Center feature prominently here with 70+ automotive companies, Drive Ohio, FlyOhio, and ODOT support, a $100M investment in smart infrastructure, and a shared vision of the future.
For more information about Leadership Ohio, visit www.leadershipohio.org. Cities or regions interested in being featured in 2024 are encouraged to contact the executive director of Leadership Ohio.