With 2017 behind us, let’s reflect on MVRPC’s undertakings and accomplishments this past year. Here are a few of this year’s highlights:

• Creating an innovative funding solution which assisted in the advancement of the Montgomery County US 35 project. This project has been a priority for the Region for many years, but lacked the necessary local match. MVRPC will use Toll Revenue Credit combined with Surface Transportation Program funds to allow the project to move forward. MVRPC will set aside nearly $3M from its FY 2024 federal funds budget for this widening. Thank you to ODOT and TRAC for contributing the remaining $11M toward this project.
• Publishing eight Regional Profiles which summarized the state of the region on a variety of levels. Because of its striking content, the Miami Valley Equity Profile really stood out. This profile spurred listening sessions and presentations with community leaders regarding the issue of equity, and spurred discussions regarding possible solutions that improve access to the Region’s opportunities.
• Upgrading the matching software for the MVRPC Rideshare Program. Since 1979, this free service has helped thousands save money on their commute. This new software is designed to be more user-friendly and mobile responsive. By collaborating with agencies across the state and developing a new brand name - Gohio Commute – users can take advantage of this robust online service.  
• Working together with a variety of agencies and organizations, MVRPC co-hosted the International Trails Symposium in May, 2017. The Symposium brought together 568 members of the trail community from 45 states and 13 countries who attended 122 educational sessions led by 197 presenters.
• Receiving a number of awards this year including the “SAFETYS” Award from the Ohio Department of Transportation, the American Planning Association National STAR Award for the Jefferson Township Future Land Use and Strategic Plan, and Ohio GIS Best Practices Award just to name a few.

These accomplishments occurred due to innovation and collaboration among member jurisdictions, their staff and delegates, and MVRPC staff. We are excited to continue Shaping Our Region’s Future Together in 2018.

Happy New Year and Congratulations to All Newly Elected Officials
Happy New Year - 2018 is here and is already memorable! This week is one of the coldest on record with temperature readings of -9° and -10°F and high temperatures just above 5°F. In addition, after winning their elections in November, many were “sworn in” this week including Debborah Wallace, moving over to Beavercreek Township from the City of Beavercreek, and Don Patterson, re-elected as Mayor of Kettering. I look forward to informing all new delegates and appointing authorities on the importance of MVRPC including how to leverage our planning services and project funding in our local jurisdictions. Please contact me at 937.223.6323 or bmartin@mvrpc.org.

During the December 7, 2017 Board of Directors meeting, we recognized eight outgoing delegates and alternates, who combined, had 177 years of public service. The list below, of retiring officials, is a “Who’s Who” of the Miami Valley including four Regional Stewards, our current Chairperson, and advocates for numerous causes. Please help me congratulate the following, who represented their jurisdictions on the MVRPC Board of Directors, on their well-deserved retirement:

• MVRPC Chairperson and Regional Steward Carol Graff, Trustee, Beavercreek Township
• Mayor Dan Kirkpatrick, Fairborn
• MVRPC Regional Steward Karen Wintrow, Council member, Village of Yellow Springs
• MVRPC Regional Steward Rap Hankins, Council member, City of Trotwood
• MVRPC Regional Steward Jerome L. Hirt, Sr., Trustee, Bethel Township, Miami County
• Trustee Gerald Peters, Perry Township, Montgomery County
• Trustee Joyce Young, Washington Township, Montgomery County
• Mayor Leonard Wirz, Village of Pleasant Hill
   

New Tutorial Video Explains Web TELUS Updates
Web TELUS is an interactive web-based program that allows users to see comprehensive details about transportation improvements scheduled to be completed within the next four years. It was launched in 2004 and MVRPC was very fortunate to be the first regional council in the country to offer it. Through the help of the New Jersey Institute of Technology, we have upgraded Web TELUS so that it now includes projects that are on the Region’s Long Range Transportation Plan as well as near term projects outside of the MPO in Darke and Preble counties. This new version is much easier to navigate and is now mobile-responsive, so users can view it on a smart phone or tablet, while the information on the screen re-sizes accordingly. We’ve developed a short tutorial video which explains how to use Web TELUS. Go to mvrpc.org/telus/mvrpc-telus-howto.html to view it.

Meet your MVRPC staff member: Darrin Hall – Production Coordinator
Those working behind the scenes are often the unsung heroes. This is certainly the case when describing Darrin Hall, MVRPC’s Production Coordinator. For 28 years, Darrin has made sure things run smoothly by coordinating meeting room set-up, making copies, collating reports, overseeing the mailroom, coordinating with building maintenance staff, and cataloguing the Region’s aerial photographs. Darrin graduated from Carlisle High School and attended Sinclair Community College majoring in Printing Technology because he found the topic interesting. After working for Sinclair’s student newspaper, The Clarion, he joined MVRPC as an intern in 1989. He started working full-time after graduating in 1990.

In his free time, Darrin loves to experience the sights and sounds of different hockey arenas. He especially enjoys the feeling of the arena vibrating when the boat horns sound off in the old Saint Louis Arena as well as the sound of people clapping during the national anthem in the United Center in Chicago. He also enjoys hearing the cannon sound in Nationwide Arena when the Columbus Blue Jackets score a goal and watching fans throw octopuses on the ice in the old Joe Louis Arena in Detroit to celebrate a goal. His most memorable experience was watching the New York Rangers play hockey in the most famous arena in the world - Madison Square Garden!! Darrin has attended games in 27 different hockey arenas and he intends to go to many more.

Darrin has the most seniority of any current MVRPC staff member, so his experience and knowledge come in handy every day. If you happen to see him, please thank Darrin for his outstanding service!

Grants & Funding Resources
On a monthly basis, MVRPC highlights new funding opportunities on our website at mvrpc.org/grant-and-funding-opportunities. These grant and funding opportunities were found through our use of Grantfinder software. A description, contact information and program links are included on these new sources. In addition, the website includes other valuable resources for your funding pursuits. This month we are featuring information on:

• Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ 2018 Recreational Trails Program and Clean Ohio Trails Fund Grants – Deadline: February 1, 2018.
• Certified Local Government (CLG) Grants – Deadline: February 12, 2018.

If you need assistance with your grant pursuit or further research, please contact Martin Kim, Director of Regional Planning, at 937.223.6323 or mkim@mvrpc.org. 

Upcoming MVRPC Meetings: 

1/18/18   9:30 a.m.   Technical Advisory Committee – MVRPC - 10 N. Ludlow St., Suite 700, Dayton, Ohio
2/01/18   8:30 a.m.   Executive Committee;   9:00 a.m. Board of Directors – 1515 S. Main St., Dayton, Ohio
2/15/18   9:30 a.m.   Technical Advisory Committee – MVRPC - 10 N. Ludlow St., Suite 700, Dayton, Ohio
3/01/18   8:30 a.m.   Executive Committee;   9:00 a.m. Board of Directors – 1515 S. Main St., Dayton, Ohio
3/15/18   9:30 a.m.   Technical Advisory Committee – MVRPC - 10 N. Ludlow St., Suite 700, Dayton, Ohio
4/05/18   8:30 a.m.   Executive Committee;   9:00 a.m. Board of Directors – 1515 S. Main St., Dayton, Ohio

January 2018 Executive Director's Update available for download.