Greater Ohio Policy Center

From Concept to Construction: How Ohio REALTORS® Built a Scalable Model for Infill Housing With support from multiple REALTOR® Party Grants, Ohio REALTORS® created the ‘Housing Ohio’ Tools for Development Guidebook and advanced statewide housing reform that secures funding, infrastructure, ...

We were proud to work with the Ohio Realtors in developing the "Housing Ohio Toolkit". Check out this great story below and learn more about how the toolkit can assist your community with infill housing on a scalable model. realtorparty.realtor/homepage/suc...

Three Principles of a National Housing Affordability Strategy In the face of today’s affordable housing crisis, federal policymakers can provide the leadership needed to advance a sustained, comprehensive strategy that …

As Congress is working on hammering out the final details of a bipartisan legislative housing bill, our friends at the @urbaninstitute.bsky.social have a great piece on the three principals of a national housing affordability study. Check it out here ⤵️
www.urban.org/urban-wire/t...

Is your community interested in increasing housing production through pre-approved plans?

Come talk with the experts and get your questions answered at Greater Ohio Policy Center’s free monthly office hours, Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 9:00am.

Register at www.housingoh.org/office-hours

Senate Bill 42: Proponent Testimony — Greater Ohio Policy Center Testimony provided to the Senate Local Government Committee on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Click here to learn more about Senate Bill 42.

GOPC's @jasonewarner.bsky.social has submitted Proponent Testimony to the Committee, outlining our support for the legislation by providing local governments with one more tool that can help to address property taxes and preserve vibrant neighborhoods.
www.greaterohio.org/legislative-...

The Senate Local Government Committee is meeting this afternoon to hear testimony on Senate Bill 42, the Residential Stability Zone legislation designed to provide local governments permissive authority to adopt property tax relief for long term residents. ⤵️ www.ohiosenate.gov/committees/l...

Deadline Approaches for Communities Seeking Capital Budget Funds — Greater Ohio Policy Center Organizations seeking community project funding from the state must turn in their proposals to legislators' offices by Thursday, March 12.

Lawmakers have opened up the process for communities to request community project funds for possible inclusion in the upcoming 2027-28 capital budget. Those seeking funding from the state must contact legislators' offices by Thursday, March 12.
www.greaterohio.org/blog/2026/3/...

City to Try Out Concrete Barriers for New Bike Lane Project - Columbus Underground The City of Columbus has released more information about a planned redesign of Frebis Avenue on the South Side. The project, which is scheduled for construction later this year, will feature two prote...

Columbus is working on another bike lane project in the city. A new project, slated to begin construction later this year, will include concrete barriers for extra protection separating cyclists from motor vehicles to run on both sides of the street.
columbusunderground.com/city-to-try-...

Cambridge & Guernsey County Kick-Off New Era for Ohio Community Spotlight Series — Greater Ohio Policy Center Each month, we feature an Ohio city as part of our Ohio Community Spotlight series.

We regularly feature an Ohio city as part of our Ohio Community Spotlight series.

For 2026 we are expanding the series to focus not only on Ohio’s cities but the counties where they are located. To kick-off this new series, this month we feature the City of Cambridge and Guernsey County!

Newsletters — Greater Ohio Policy Center GOPC Newsletters

Our February Newsletter is out and available on our website.

This month includes stories about Panels Topics for 2026 Ohio Brownfields Conference & Early Bird Registration ending soon,
Expected Timeline for Opportunity Zone Nominations, and more. ⤵️

www.greaterohio.org/newsletters

State housing toolkit promotes pre-approved house plans “Housing Ohio: Tools for Development” includes something like a starter kit of pre-approved plans, with zoning reforms to make them work.

Thank you to @cnunewurbanism.bsky.social for this great story regarding our work with the Ohio Realtors to promote preapproved housing plans as a tool to address the need to develop more infill housing across the state. Check out their recent story below.
www.cnu.org/publicsquare...

Opportunity Zones 2.0: How Communities can Benefit from and Prepare for the Program — Greater Ohio Policy Center Established in 2017, Opportunity Zones (OZs) are low-income census tracts where investors can make qualifying investments into new projects and enterprises in exchange for federal capital gains tax re...

We have recently received an update on the designation process for OZs 2.0, which will begin later this spring. However, there are steps communities can be taking now to be prepared for when the process officially kicks off. More, today, on our blog.
www.greaterohio.org/blog/2026/2/...

Whether you use it or not, better public transit makes your commute better A surprisingly small drop in cars on the road can dramatically ease congestion, and public transit is one way to get there.

Americans lost an average of an entire work week sitting in traffic in 2024. Commuter costs have surged 16% over the past five years to reach $269 billion annually. Whether you realize it or not, it could be worse. www.fastcompany.com/91493803/whe...

Interested in learning more about pre-approved housing? We provide monthly overview of pre-approval programs & individual topics on the final Tuesday of each month with our Housing Office Hours. Join us this Tuesday for Partners for Success. Register here >
www.housingoh.org/office-hours

Opinion: ODOT, Next Governor, Must Prioritize Fix-It-First Roadway Policy — Greater Ohio Policy Center Having a strategic, comprehensive plan for how we continue to fund our transportation infrastructure will be an unavoidable priority for the next governor.

Recently, ODOT paused a study on expanding tolling on highways beyond the Ohio Turnpike. In response to coverage of this action in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, GOPC's @jasonewarner.bsky.social submitted the following letter to the editor which we share below.
www.greaterohio.org/blog/2026/2/...

Interested in learning more about preapproved housing plans and how they can benefit your community? Come chat with the experts at GOPC’s free Pre-Approvals Office Hours
Final Tuesday of each month | 9:00-10:00AM ET
Register here www.housingoh.org/office-hours

Celebrating Ohio's Public Transit Providers During Ohio Love's Transit Week! — Greater Ohio Policy Center We salute all of the public transit agencies around Ohio as well as our partners at the Ohio Public Transit Association (OPTA) during Ohio Loves Transit Week, and thank them for all they do throughout...

On the heels of Valentine’s Day, one of our favorite commemorations takes place this week, as everyone here at GOPC celebrates Ohio Loves Transit Week!

We salute all of the public transit agencies around Ohio & thank them for all they do throughout the year!
www.greaterohio.org/blog/2026/2/...

Ohio just hit pause on road-tolling study that could change how you pay for highways I commend ODOT for wanting to study new ways of funding Ohio’s roadways. I also commend the Ohio Controlling Board for wanting to give the next governor room to develop a plan to sustainably invest in...

Last week, a request from ODOT seeking $2.5 million to study expanding tolling on highways beyond the Ohio Turnpike was paused. In response to coverage in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, GOPC submitted the following letter to the editor.
www.cleveland.com/letters/2026...

7 Reasons Bike Lanes and Sidewalks Are Good for Drivers - Toole Design Here's our list of 7 reasons why federal funding for bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit riders improves the transportation experience for drivers, too.

At GOPC, we are big advocates for a fully integrated & multi-modal transportation network that is nimble, safe, & reliable for users of all modes.

Our friends at Toole Design have put together a great post about why bike lanes & sidewalks are good for drivers too!

Preparing A Successful Capital Budget Request YouTube video by GreaterOhio

Last year, GOPC hosted our biannual capital budget webinar, which you can view below and on our YouTube channel. This session outlines the capital budget process and how your community can access project funds. youtu.be/ZBHCE_8IEh8

State lawmakers have formally kicked off their process for collecting & vetting community projects for possible inclusion in the state capital budget. Groups seeking funding from the state must submit proposals to legislators' offices by Thursday, March 12.

While property taxes have rapidly escalated in many parts of the state the last several years, the wholesale abolition of property taxes will irreparably harm Ohio’s communities and put unsustainable pressure on other tax sources, like sales tax. www.greaterohio.org/blog/2026/2/...

Red Gerard Releases Cleveland-Inspired Signature Snowboard The Rocky River native has a new signature snowboard from Arbor that puts Cleveland in the spotlight as he rides into the Milan Cortino Olympics.

Love for Ohio’s legacy cities is strong. Thanks for repping Cleveland, Red Gerard!

clevelandmagazine.com/articles/red...

Bill Tracker — Greater Ohio Policy Center Bill Tracker Information About Legislation Followed by Greater Ohio Policy Center

Lawmakers resumed work this week at the Ohio Statehouse after an extended holiday break. Our first legislative update of 2026 is now available on our website.

NOTE: Tracking of bills by GOPC does not constitute endorsement or support of the legislation.
www.greaterohio.org/bill-tracker

Housing Ohio: Tools for Development — Greater Ohio Policy Center Housing production has slowed, prices have surged, and community leaders are searching for tools to address these challenges effectively. The Ohio REALTORS™ and Greater Ohio Policy Center have develo...

Last year, GOPC & the Ohio REALTORS® published Housing Ohio: Tools for Development which includes:

– A la carte Zoning Adjustments
– Free Building Plans
– Pre-Approved Plans Program Guide

If your community is looking to increase housing, check it out here
www.greaterohio.org/publications...

Local architect selected to design Akron housing plans Grassroots Architecture will create Made in Akron plans, pre-reviewed free home to build in the city, lower the cost of construction.

Akron is one step closer to having pre-approved housing designs to help speed-up the approval process & lower costs associated with developing attainable housing throughout the community. signalakron.org/local-archit...

Why nobody really knows the scale of the U.S. housing crisis Experts say the U.S. needs an additional 2 million to 20 million homes to fix the shortfall, underscoring the challenge of meeting the nation’s housing needs.

News that caught our eye: Why nobody really knows the scale of the U.S. Housing Crisis www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Informative Data and Resources from the Federal Reserve Bank System — Greater Ohio Policy Center GOPC regularly uses research and resources developed by the Federal Reserve Bank system. Below is a compilation that Senior Regional Outreach Manager Robert Brinkley recently shared with GOPC.

GOPC regularly uses research and resources developed by the Federal Reserve Bank system. Below is a compilation that the Senior Regional Outreach Manager at the @clevelandfed.bsky.social recently shared with GOPC. www.greaterohio.org/blog/2026/1/...

GOPC's AT Newsletter helps to promote, develop, and implement more Active Transportation (AT) infrastructure throughout Ohio, raise awareness of existing funding programs, & support policies and programs that will lead to even more AT & transit investment in Ohio.
mailchi.mp/greaterohio/...

Middletown launches new program to redevelop vacant neighborhood lots A citywide neighborhood revitalization program in Middletown will soon offer developers an initial batch of 12 city-owned vacant residential lots across four neighborhoods to gauge interest in new, ma...

News that caught our eye: City of Middletown launches new program to develop vacant neighborhood lots. www.journal-news.com/news/middlet...