June 2024

Brian O. Martin, AICP

On Wednesday, May 15th, MVRPC hosted the inaugural meeting of the Regional Transportation Planning Organization Steering Committee (RTPOSC), marking a milestone for the RTPO pilot program. The meeting followed an update to the MVRPC agency bylaws, which was adopted by the Board of Directors on March 7, 2024. The amendment officially established the RTPOSC as a voting body within the MVRPC.

During the meeting, the Steering Committee members elected Preble County Engineer, R. Kyle Cross, P.E., P.S. as the RTPOSC Chairperson. Additionally, Preble County Economic Development Director, Justin Sommer was appointed as the Vice-Chairperson. The Steering Committee also voted to forward the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan (2050 RTP) to the Board of Directors for adoption at their June 6th meeting.

The Darke, Preble, and Shelby counties’ Regional Transportation Plan strives to improve the multimodal transportation system in a manner that supports enhanced accessibility and mobility for all people and freight resulting in a higher quality of life for its residents and economic development opportunities for the Region.

The 2050 RTP lists roadway, transit, bikeway/pedestrian, and transportation alternative projects that reflect the region's shared values from various stakeholders in the region, including local elected officials, planners, engineers, business community, special interest groups, and the general public. The Plan also reflects current and projected land use patterns, regional demographics, and economic, environmental, and traffic patterns.



The complete report for the 2050 RTP can be found at rtpo.mvrpc.org. The RTPOSC will play a vital role in collaborating with MVRPC staff and advising the Board of Directors on technical issues and other delegated matters within the RTPO jurisdictions of Darke, Preble, and Shelby Counties. This new structure aims to enhance regional coordination and improve transportation planning and implementation across these communities.

In this new segment, we'll share information from our latest board meeting. Stay informed and engaged with key highlights tailored for our valued board members and partners.

• MVRPC RTPO Board of Directors Adopts the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan.

• Greater Region Mobility Initiative (GRMI) Plan Update presented by MVRPC Manager of Regional Transit Programs, Serena Anderson.

• Air Quality Awareness & Rideshare Program Update presented by MVRPC Director of Marketing and Public Outreach, Laura Dent.

Board Member Resources

• Glossary of MVRPC Terminology- Here you'll find a draft collection of frequently used terms within the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission. These terms are often used during agency meetings. Whether you're new to MVRPC or just looking for a refresher, this glossary is designed to help you navigate the language of MVRPC with ease.

• 2024 Board of Directors Voting Roster- Our 2024 Board of Directors roster is now available! This document outlines every voting delegate and alternate for each MVRPC member jurisdiction. 

"Auds and Ends" with Karl Keith Montgomery County Auditor

This month, I was interviewed by Karl Keith Montgomery's County Auditor for his podcast Auds & Ends. Each episode, Auditor Keith will interview a different member of our community about their work, their organization and the services they provide to Montgomery County. 

You can listen on their Buzzsprout page or anywhere you listen to podcasts, like Spotify, Apple and Google. You can watch the video version of the show on YouTube or on television at regularly scheduled times on DATV and MVCC.

The week from May 13 – 15, 2024 provided an excellent opportunity to speak with one voice together and with our elected U.S. Senate and House officials in our Nation’s Capital, Washington, D.C.  The annual DDC Fly-In had outstanding discussions among once in an opportunity expert speaker on National Defense Policy, International geopolitics, development successes in Ohio, and others. The conference was held primarily at the historic Mayflower Hotel Autograph Collection in downtown as well as at other venues including Georgetown Law School, and on Capitol Hill. https://daytonregion.com/community-leader-fly-in/about-fly

It was good to see many of our members and partners from various jurisdictions, companies, and organizations as well. It was a great opportunity to have a discussion with people that I see often as well as others that I had just met. It was a pleasure to visit with the staff of our Senators and U.S. Representative Turner to discuss the Greene Connect bikeway project in pursuit of $25M for projects that will improve connections between Yellow Springs and Clifton, Xenia, and Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Township. 

I am honored to serve on the DDC Board of Trustees and I look forward to attending again next year.

The Executive Directors from Toledo, Lima, and Dayton met via zoom on May 17, 2024. It was an introductory meeting because two of the three EDs are approaching their first anniversary on the job. Tara Reynolds Bales (Lima-Allen Co. LACRPC) and Sandy Spang (Toledo TMACOG) met with me just to get to know one another. We’re from unique and different backgrounds showing clearly that our regions are made up of local officials that consider their current issues and future needs when hiring an Executive Director. Commonalities include all three are working to form RTPOs among counties adjacent to their MPO counties as we did here in the Miami Valley (see map). I look forward to continuing to working together, providing advice from our experiences, and learning more about nearby Regions. Just as we often work with Springfield-TCC, LUC, and OKI often on broad regional matters, there are many diverse topics that we can work on with partners just a bit farther away.

MVRPC Hosts Free GIS Training for our Members

MVRPC hosted another successful “ArcGIS Pro-Basics” training on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at Wright State University’s GIS Lab. Intended for beginners who are new to ArcGIS Pro, this training session covered hands-on learning modules on how to add, display, configure, and map various data and developing and sharing custom maps in ArcGIS Pro.

MVRPC staff served as instructors to the 11 participants during the training, providing detailed written tutorials and other materials that attendees could take back to continue to practice after the training was complete.

MVRPC provides 2-3 training sessions per year for our members on a variety of topic areas such as ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro. For more information about MVRPC’s GIS program and training opportunities, visit our website at mvrpc.org/data-mapping/gis-mvrpc or contact Tom Harner, GIS Manager at tharner@mvrpc.org.

MVRPC Participates in Northmont City School District Career Fair

Northmont City School District hosted a career fair on Friday, April 26^th. The career fair featured a large number of organizations and was open to both middle schoolers and high schoolers. Two MVRPC staff represented the agency and shared the types of work that MVRPC does, and how students could prepare for a career at an agency such as MVRPC.

Students were introduced to topics such as transportation planning, land use planning, environmental planning, geographic information systems, handling U.S. Census data, human resources, information technology, and more. Hundreds of students stopped by the table and many students grabbed bike maps, brochures, and other items helping them understand what MVRPC does.

We would like to thank Northmont City School District for allowing us to participate in the career fair! If you are aware of any opportunities for MVRPC to spread the word of the work that MPOs do, and how young professionals can start a career at an MPO such as MVRPC, please reach out to Tiffany Thomas, HR coordinator, tthomas@mvrpc.org. 

MVRPC staff was honored to join Fabrice Juin, MVRPC Regional Equity Initiative Project Manager, at his induction ceremony into the Dayton Business Journal’s Forty under 40. This award celebrates the achievements of young professionals making significant contributions to the region. Nominated by MVRPC’s Executive Director, Brian O. Martin, Fabrice joined a distinguished group of honorees at the ceremony held on May 16, 2024, in the Apollo Room at Wright State University. The evening included networking and dinner, where attendees recognized the achievements of the Forty under 40 honorees. During his acceptance speech, Fabrice thanked his mentors, Brian Martin and Rap Hankins, for their guidance, and his colleagues for their support. As the manager of MVRPC’s Regional Equity Initiative, Fabrice promotes equity across the Miami Valley Region. The Regional Equity Initiative is a coordinated effort by MVRPC, member communities, and partners to strengthen the Miami Valley by correcting policies; reforming institutions; and closing the gaps that undermine, sustained quality of life improvements for underserved communities and minority populations.

We congratulate Fabrice on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to his continued impact on the region!

On May 8th, MVRPC and The Dayton Foundation teamed up to host the Miami Valley Age-Friendly Summit where 100+ civic, nonprofit and business leaders explored best pathways to support happy and healthy aging throughout our region.

This video provides a glimpse at the remarkable conversations that unfolded: https://youtu.be/srHK3jVfFBk?si=qkWQEyFqNYMfFmR2

Grant funding is now available to support new communities joining the Miami Valley Age-Friendly Network. Details and the grant application can be viewed/downloaded at: www.mvrpc.org/age-friendly

How can we make the Miami Valley more "Age-Friendly"?

Our region, along with the rest of the country, is grappling with a demographic shift and how to best serve an aging population. According to the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, well-designed, age-friendly communities foster economic growth and make for happier, healthier residents of all ages. What does that look like for our region and how can we better adapt to meet the needs of our residents? Hear from three contributors discuss the issue: read the latest article on Dayton Daily News.

On a monthly basis, MVRPC highlights several funding opportunities for eligible cities, counties, and townships on our website that could benefit communities in the Region. We include a description, contact information, and program links. We have also listed other valuable resources for funding opportunities for our regional jurisdictions and organizations. See more at: mvrpc.org/grant-and-funding-opportunities

This month, we are featuring information on:

• NEA Grants for Arts Projects 2, FY2025 – Deadline: July 11, 2024
• Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grants – Deadline: July 25, 2024 



If you have any questions, please contact Kathryn Youra Polk at kyourapolk@mvrpc.org.

Consider Joining SolSmart

SolSmart is a national program that helps cities, villages, counties, and regional organizations become solar energy leaders. A technical assistance program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, participating SolSmart communities are reducing bureaucratic barriers to going solar for residents and businesses, and spurring economic growth. To date, 526 local governments in 43 states have achieved SolSmart designation, representing over 117 million people. The program is seeking at least 500 more designated communities.

The SolSmart program has two key parts. First, the program provides no-cost technical assistance to help local governments follow national best practices to expand solar energy use in their jurisdictions. Second, it recognizes and celebrates these communities with SolSmart designations of Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. In our Region, the City of Springboro is a Bronze-level SolSmart community.

The SolSmart designation criteria are based on established best practices that encourage the growth of solar energy at the local level. The SolSmart Standard Criteria pathway is organized into five categories:

• Permitting and Inspection
• Planning and Zoning
• Government Operations
• Community Engagement
• Market Development

Within each category are specific actions that municipalities, counties, and regional organizations can take to encourage local solar energy use.

Read more about the SolSmart program and start your community’s online enrollment at solsmart.org. 

Upcoming Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcements in 2024

In order to provide stakeholders with more visibility into upcoming funding opportunities, U.S. DOT publishes anticipated dates for upcoming Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) for programs within the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), as well as adjacent programs that support BIL and IRA objectives.

View the Grant Programs Calendar here: Key Notices of Funding Opportunity | US Department of Transportation. 

Please contact Savannah Diamond, MVRPC’s Assistant to the Executive Director at sdiamond@mvrpc.org or 937.223.6323 with your comments or questions about local and regional grant pursuits.

Resources -

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Rural Playbook: A roadmap for delivering opportunity and investments in rural America

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Technical Assistance Guide: A list of federal resources to help communities deliver infrastructure projects

EPA WaterTA

EPA's free Water Technical Assistance (WaterTA) services support communities to identify water challenges, develop plans, build capacity, and develop application materials to access water infrastructure funding. For more information visit the website: https://www.epa.gov/water-infrastructure/water-technical-assistance-waterta

MVRPC Meetings & Events

Please check the agency calendar on mvrpc.org or contact Savannah Diamond at sdiamond@mvrpc.org for the status of your meeting.

MVRPC emails are produced through Constant Contact. We have negotiated a significantly reduced group rate for all of our MVRPC members and partners to join Constant Contact making it easy for you to offer your own customized, professional communication to your communities. You will save considerably more than you could joining the platform on your own, and even if you are already using Constant Contact, you can apply our discount to save even more. Best of all, the MVRPC communication team is here to help you get started! Visit our unique Constant Contact link or contact Laura Dent, MVRPC Director of Marketing and Public Outreach to learn more at ldent@mvrpc.org.

937.223.6323 | mvrpc.org