Leverage community organizations/initiatives

Central Ohio communities are fortunate to have access to a host of community organizations and initiatives whose missions are focused on sustainability. All too often, however, opportunities for improvement are missed because the community is not aware of these resources or does not know how to best utilize them. By raising awareness and building relationships with community organizations before they are needed, a community can seize opportunities as they arise.

Idea

It's no secret - becoming more sustainable is challenging. There is so much to learn, and becoming more sustainabile often requires technical knowledge that individuals and institutions may not have or a behavior change that is difficult to navigate without some motivational support. Fortunately, there are many organizations in Central Ohio whose missions are to help eliminate these barriers. By leveraging the programs, knowledge, and resources these organizations provide, individuals, businesses, and the government can ensure that they are able to achieve the most impact with their limited resources. The organizations listed below cover many facets of sustainability ranging from transportation to energy to landscaping, and several have an explicit focus on social equity and/or the environment.

Goal

Provide opportunities for sustainability-related community organizations to interact with Whitehall residents at city-sponsored events.

Objectives

1. Compile a list of city-sponsored events planned for the upcoming year.
2. Work with the planning committees for each event to allocate space for community organizations to interact with event participants.
3. Compile a list of sustainability-related community organizations with brief summaries and contact information. (Done! See Examples section.)
4. Reach out to organizations on the list and invite them to participate in the events.

Examples

Organization	Description
Yay Bikes! https://www.yaybikes.com info@yaybikes.com 614-470-4220	Yay Bikes! influences the conditions that help people safely and comfortably ride bicycles for transportation. Whitehall residents would benefit from their "How We Roll!" program, which teaches inexperienced cyclists how to ride on the roads, and their Yay Valet! program, which provides free secure bike storage at community events. Whitehall businesses could benefit from their themed monthly Year of Yay! rides, which often highlight (and stop by) local businesses, and their Ride Buddy program, which provides escorts to novice bike commuters for their first commute. City government could benefit from their Professional Development Ride series in which they take local leaders on a ride through town and educate them about the technical details and social, environmental, and economic benefits of bike-friendly roads. Spoiler: Making your city bike friendly might be easier - and less costly - than you think!
Clintonville Neighborhood Greenways http://clintonvillegreenways.org/ hello@clintonvillegreenways.org	Clintonville Neighborhood Greenways (CNG) seeks to build a neighborhood bustling with people in which streets are shared safely by everyone - walking, biking, and driving. Their approach makes use of the "neighborhood greenways" or "bike boulevard" model used successfully in cities throughout the U.S. and elsewhere. Rather than try to shoehorn bikes onto busy arterials using a "complete streets" approach, CNG is designing a network of bike-prioritized side streets with slow speeds, low traffic volumes, and other features such as wayfinding signs and adjustment of traffic control devices to make cycling safer and more comfortable. Although the efforts of CNG are focused exclusively in Clintonville, their knowledge and experience would be a valuable resource for a group wishing to create neighborhood greenways in Whitehall.
TransitColumbus http://www.transitcolumbus.org/ info@transitcolumbus.org 614-859-0287	Transit Columbus champions an integrated public transportation system for the people of Central Ohio to improve the safety, health, environment and economic vitality of the entire Columbus region. In 2017 they produced a Voter Guide featuring responses from candidates to transportation-related questions. They also curate reports and studies that support transportation investments, and hosted the Good Ideas challenge to solicit and implement ideas to address Central Ohio's transportation challenges.
Central Ohio Greenways http://centralohiogreenways.com/ 614-228-2663	Central Ohio Greenways is a service of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission which envisions a world-class network of trails easily accessible to every Central Ohioan and works to increase greenways trail mileages and use of trails for recreational and transportation needs. In addition to advocating and planning for trail investments, they maintain trail information and maps and reports and best practices related to Central Ohio trails.
Local Matters http://www.local-matters.org/ info@local-matters.org	The mission of Local Matters is to create healthy communities through food education, access and advocacy. The achieve this primarily through education and outreach programs such as their Cooking Matters class, which helps families learn to cook healthy meals on a budget. Other programs include Food Matters, which exposes children to healthy foods and eating behaviors; Growing Matters, which teaches participants about growing food in an outdoor classroom environment; and Wellness Matters, which helps employers promote healthy eating in the workplace. They also served as the lead non-profit in the development of the Columbus and Franklin County Food Action Plan
Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District https://www.franklinswcd.org/ Contact Form 614-486-9613	Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District (FSWCD) has something for everyone. Residents can benefit from the Backyard Conservation program, which provides advice about sustainable landscaping and rainwater management for homeowners, as well as vouchers for significant discounts on rain barrels, compost bins, and native trees. Residents may also enjoy their annual plant sale and fish sale. The City of Whitehall can benefit from technical assistance with stormwater management, natural resources evaluation, and GIS services. FSWCD has also conducted several major conservation projects of their own to preserve soil and water quality in the county.
IMPACT Community Action http://www.impactca.org/ communications@impactca.org 614-252-2799	The mission of IMPACT Community Action is to reduce poverty by providing hope-inspiring help and real opportunities for self-sufficiency. Although all of their programs touch on the social equity aspect of sustainability, they administer several programs to help low-income residents save money on energy that are especially pertinent. IMPACT is the local energy assistance provider for the Ohio Home Weatherization Assistance Program. This program provides housing unit inspections, home insulation, and air-leakage detection that save customers 23% to 30% on their energy bills. IMPACT works with American Electric Power to help eligible residents replace energy-wasting applicances, lighting, and water devices. Finally, IMPACT works with the Mid-Ohio Food Bank to sponsor several fresh produce giveaways throughout the year.
Columbus GreenSpot https://www.columbus.gov/greenspot/ greenspot@columbus.gov 614-645-3111	GreenSpot inspires, educates, and recognizes households, businesses, and community groups that adopt green practices. Households, buisiness and organizations, and community groups join GreenSpot and pledge to engage in projects and behaviors to improve their sustainability. The GreenSpot Learn website provides a wealth of ideas to help them on their path, and the GreenSpotLight program recognizes those who are successful. Neighborhoods can also get in on the action. GreenSpot also provides educational opportunities to help kids and businesses engage in more sustainable practices.
Community Computer Alliance http://ccompa.org/ info@ccompa.org 614-223-1530	Community Computer Alliance (CCA) accepts donations of unwanted electronics from individuals and organizations. They attempt to keep donated equipment in circulation as long as possible by offering working items for sale in their technology thrift store. When an item is inoperable or obsolete, they attempt to recycle it responsibly. If recycling is not possible, they dispose of the item in accordance with EPA guidelines. CCA partners with Embracing Autism, Food for Good Thought, and Columbus State Community College to provide workforce development opportunities for individuals with autism. These individuals learn about team work and crew work, and develop new skills by participating in the electronics refurbisment and recycling processes.
Clintonville Energy Collaborative http://cec-freedom.org/ Contact Form	The mission of Clintonville Energy Collaborative is to create a solar home on every street in Clintonville, Ohio. Traditionally, this has meant "barn-raising" style installation events for solar photovoltaic systems, but the group now focuses more on education. The Projects section of their website contains detailed notes about several residential solar installations, including photos and lessons learned. The Informational Files section contains useful resources such as a solar installation checklist, and a sample agreement to allow the solar system to connect to the commercial electric grid, which allows the owner to be paid for surplus electricity they generate. The group also operates a blog and an active Facebook page, and the members could likely offer a wealth of knowledge and experience to Whitehall residents wishing to install solar energy systems.
Green Energy Ohio http://www.greenenergyoh.org/ Contact Form	Green Energy Ohio (GEO) is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting economically and environmentally sustainable energy policies and practices in Ohio. Their most important service is their annual Green Energy Ohio Tour. The tour is a free event that features self-guided, guided or open house tours in each region of the state and highlights homes, businesses, and public places that are using green technologies such as solar, wind, biomass, green design, and energy efficiency. The organization also provides resources related to renewable energy such as fact sheets and lists of renewable energy installers.

Connection to Other Plans

This idea potentially addresses the following elements of the MORPC Regional Sustainability Agenda:

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