Several Ohio cooperative economic development professionals participated in NREDA’s annual conference last week, entitled “Elevating Innovation from the Group Up.” The three-day conference brought together nearly 200 rural economic development professionals, utility leaders, and community partners from across the country, with a focus on strategies to strengthen small towns, boost rural vitality, and shape the future of rural economic development. Topics discussed were rural housing, development financing, site selections, entrepreneurship within rural communities, and community engagement – specifically around NIMBYism.
The NIMBYism presentation, by Lindsay Germany, a Site Selection Consultant with Global Location Strategies, was directly relevant to electric cooperative economic development professionals because energy costs, grid infrastructure, and rural land use sit at the exact center of both site selection and modern community opposition as electricity bills are the #1 driver of opposition.
Additional key presentations:
- Lisa Hurley, Executive Director, York County Development Corporation and Jacob Ihrie, Executive Director, Northeast Indiana Regional Development Authority presented on rural housing issues including demand, the wealth gap, and permitting delays.
- Thane Hutcheson, President, Five Points Strategic Advisors presented on the new Legislation on Opportunity Zones and New Market Tax Credits.
- Tamien Dysart, CEO and Co-Founder, Think 3D Solutions spoke on building sustainable communities by developing people and cultivating intentional leadership cultures. His focus is on people development as a strategy to addressing the workforce crisis.
Ohio cooperative participants (pictured) included: Kelly Barr, Manager, External Affairs, OEC; Justis Clifford, Chief Strategy Officer, LRME/NCE, Brad Ebersole, Community and Government Relations Director; Jade Guthrie, Manager of Communications, Butler Rural Electric; and Beau Michael, Director, Development and Energy Services. Also pictured is Amy Dutton, Talent Services Account Manager, JobsOhio.
