Learn how your community can apply for a $5,000 grant to celebrate the next major milestone in U.S. history by attending a virtual TMACOG Tech at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 10.
Click here to register and you’ll receive a Microsoft Teams link to attend this free virtual event. Reserve your spot before registration closes!
Communities must take swift action now if they intend to apply for the America 250-Ohio Communities Grant, which can be used for events and educational programming to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.
Todd Kleismit, executive director of the America 250-Ohio Commission, will share full details about the grant program and outline the steps needed to apply.
Thank you to the 2024 supporters of TMACOG Tech:
CT Consultants
DGL Consulting Engineers
The Mannik & Smith Group
Ohio Concrete
Winter GA registration now open
Registration is open now for TMACOG’s 2025 Winter General Assembly, which will feature extended caucus sessions, a slate of important business, and a dynamic presentation highlighting how environmental funding programs can revitalize communities and drive economic development.
Click hereto reserve your seat and get details about all the content we’re packing into this year’s Winter General Assembly, set for Friday, January 24 in Perrysburg.
In addition to opportunities to collaborate on regional issues, the event will include a keynote conversation featuring Anne Vogel, director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and Sally Gladwell, senior vice president and principal of The Mannik and Smith Group, Inc.
“Resources for Renewal: Partnering with the EPA for Economic Development” will showcase successful case studies about water quality partnerships between Ohio EPA, local governments, and private sector partners that have revitalized urban and rural areas to attract new businesses and create job opportunities.
If your community has a site with environmental barriers to redevelopment, this could be the perfect opportunity to learn more about potential strategies for action. Coordinating strategic investments through state and federal funding programs can also improve property values and support industries of all shapes and sizes.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about funding programs and connect with EPA representatives who are eager to share information and resources with you.
Student Watershed Watch Summit inspires and educates
Students from schools across northwest Ohio who collected and tested water samples this fall gathered for the Student Watershed Watch Summit at the Toledo Zoo.
This was the 35th year for Student Watershed Watch, which teaches data collection and analysis, promotes the importance of water quality, and provides a look at careers in environmental fields. Since 1989, TMACOG has helped equip teachers to educate more than 25,000 students.
Over several weeks this fall, more than 20 teachers and nearly 1,000 students visited area waterways to collect samples and measure dissolved oxygen, acidity, turbidity, aquatic macroinvertebrates, and other parameters that provide insight into the health of area waterways.
Students who participated in the summit shared creative presentations to highlight their findings. They also met with professionals working in environmental fields and participated in fun activities, including a scavenger hunt around the zoo.
Schools participating in this year’s summit included Anthony Wayne High School, Chase STEMM Academy, Lake High School, Otsego Junior High School, Ottawa Hills Elementary, Sylvania Northview High School, Sylvania Southview High School, Westside Montessori, and Wildwood Environmental Academy.
Students earned awards for their presentations and displays. This year’s winners included:
Best Overall Table Display: Lake High School
Most Creative Table Display: Sylvania Southview High School
Most Informative Table Display: Sylvania Northview High School
Grades 5-8
Best Overall Presentation: Otsego Junior High School
Most Creative Presentation: Ottawa Hills Elementary
Most Informative Presentation: Chase STEMM Academy
Grades 9-12
Best Overall Presentation: Wildwood Environmental Academy
Most Creative Presentation: Sylvania Southview High School
Most Informative Presentation: Anthony Wayne High School
Area waterways that students evaluated this fall included Ayers Creek, Detwiler Ditch, Hill Ditch, the Little Portage River, Mallard Lake Overflow, the Maumee River, the Ottawa River, the Portage River, Swan Creek, Tenmile Creek, Tontogany Creek, and Wolf Creek.
Student Watershed Watch has a long record of participation among teachers and environmental professionals, as well as community partners who provide essential support, including General Motors, the Lucas County Engineer’s Office, the City of Toledo, and the Toledo Zoo.
Regional economic development planning begins
Economic development partners from across the region helped kick off the process to create a new Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).
Marissa Bechstein, TMACOG project manager, outlined plans for monthly meetings over the next year that will lead to a new CEDS, which will align economic development strategies across Lucas, Wood, Ottawa, Sandusky, and Seneca counties.
Developing a new regional CEDS is a crucial step toward establishing an Economic Development District (EDD) that will allow TMACOG and its partners to access new federal funding opportunities. Regions that include an EDD receive approximately three times more grants and twice as much grant funding per capita.
Freight plan open house slated Dec. 10
Share your input on our regional transportation network during a public open house at TMACOG from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, December 10.
TMACOG is developing a Regional Freight Plan that will inventory roadways, railroads, ports, airports, pipelines, and intermodal facilities, and review key commercial, manufacturing, and industrial land uses and businesses.
A well-planned freight network means fewer traffic jams, safer roads, and a stronger local economy. An efficient system lowers costs, ensures products reach consumers, and connects local manufacturers to national and international markets.
At this meeting, you can review a draft transportation analysis and provide feedback on proposed projects and policies.
Your input will help ensure that TMACOG’s Regional Freight Plan represents our region’s needs and opportunities. To learn more about the plan, go to https://tmacog.org/transportation/freight-plan
If you require assistance to fully participate, contact Jennifer Allen: allen@tmacog.org or 419-241-9155 ext. 1107. For more information on how to access TMACOG’s office, go to https://tmacog.org/contact
A tribute to TMACOG service
A fall celebration at Wood County's W.W. Knight Nature Preserve recognized the dedication of leaders from across the region who contributed to TMACOG’s successful 2024.
Following important meetings of the Board of Trustees and General Assembly, staff hosted a luncheon to recognize the service of members of these groups, as well as members and partners who participated in our strategic planning process earlier this year.
Our Leadership Appreciation Luncheon also included a fun trivia game that highlighted some of the unique qualities and history of area communities.
Thank you to everyone who helps advance our region by participating in TMACOG, and a special shoutout to Wood County Park District for use of their outstanding meeting space!
Planning for infrastructure impacts from climate change
TMACOG is in the early stages of developing a regional Resiliency Improvement Plan (RIP) that will open new avenues for funding to plan for the impacts of climate change.
The plan aims to assess and enhance the resiliency of regional assets and infrastructure that impact transportation, water quality, and economic development. As climate change continues to pose significant risks to the region’s water and transportation infrastructure, initial efforts will concentrate on addressing vulnerabilities related to flooding, wind, extreme temperatures, and winter weather.
Assessing resiliency has become a top priority for agencies such as the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency when considering applications to federal funding sources and grant programs.
The RIP will encompass Lucas, Wood, Sandusky, Ottawa, and Seneca counties in Ohio, as well as Monroe County in Michigan. This collaborative effort will bring together stakeholders from across these areas to create a unified and robust plan.
Stakeholders and TMACOG planners kicked off the process earlier this year and will meet to update progress and gather potential projects to include in the plan. Next steps include finalizing goals and objectives, and identifying targets and measures.
Once approved by FHWA, the plan can be used to apply for reduced requirements for matching funds for the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) Program and can be cited by organizations in the planning region.
TMACOG is committed to offering relevant, up-to-date information to our members, partners, and the public. We have recently transitioned to a new communication platform that offers you more control over the types of information that you receive.
Please take a moment to click hereand check the categories that interest you on our contact preferences form. This will allow us to deliver messages that are relevant to your interaction with TMACOG.
Going forward, if you click unsubscribe in a TMACOG email, you will be removed from future messages in that category. You may continue to receive other messages sent by individual staff members.
If you wish to unsubscribe from all TMACOG mass communication, send an email to unsubscribe@tmacog.org
.png?width=1200&upscale=true&name=America%20250%20Ohio%20Email%20Header%20(1).png)
.png?width=1200&upscale=true&name=TMACOG%20Regional%20Freight%20Plan%20(Email%20Header).png)
