[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6169078,"mediaKeyId","5405233-0f28ac791aff944c536f768cb0ba1c70","parentId",5405233,"title","Alloy outlines Community Impact Program wins in Cheviot, Mount Healthy and Lock Site in Laughlin","audioSeconds",915,"startMs",8079000,"endMs",8994000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5405233-0f28ac791aff944c536f768cb0ba1c70&start=8079&end=8994","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5405233-0f28ac791aff944c536f768cb0ba1c70/thumbnail_8079000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6169078/Hamilton-County/Ohio/Alloy-outlines-Community-Impact-Program-wins-in-Cheviot-Mount-Healthy-and-Lock-Site-in-Laughlin","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6169078-29f4730f4c7881d76b15933016ab31d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507799&Signature=MV6cKdZLGC0llY7lv-XrUSqfe9OmTz8qMBiSkirz-MN6fifeG0FntQrePBHT3Zkc6jku6x9HnavCIBxrvU4uFIRbpqF5L05U1BfwyN9ksnszXgm7J-rK9ChwVhYQ46a~nqPqps6zqoro2DVZXq3TUOx9cmTYBiChCshXE2I9nKXg73BGOCQ1W4XnibZUb1bd4WuwWAjxAqCy6r7CgzsQEUOHeIJXBweJCaD4sVKO23BGT~Gd9LGO7y~fVUgIn90OPwIcakWh6lQYKFpi2uIfiJ-KDCXWYOHtBxEQSPHS55qLGS0lTMRA8XFGiwtGQGghKKvvX4MY2w0jt~pX~oFAXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hamilton County OH","date","2025-07-16T04:43:53Z","article","Alloy Development presented an update July 15 on the county’s Community Impact Program (CIP), describing community project management work in Cheviot, Mount Healthy and Laughlin and reporting grant awards and developer selection activity.

Catherine Fitzgerald, Alloy, said the program was launched to help smaller communities that receive grants but lack the capacity to implement projects. \"The purpose of the program is to promote economic development in communities that in need of additional capacity, and support them really through project management,\" Fitzgerald said.

In Cheviot, Alloy and county staff worked to re‑solicit development interest for a 14,000‑square‑foot city‑owned building (a former Woolworths department store). The city had a $320,000 2024 seed grant for stabilization and capital improvements after prior redevelopment plans faltered. Alloy conducted outreach to brewing and hospitality partners and recommended a competitive RFP process led by the city’s community improvement corporation. The city selected \"Central Station,\" a proposal by Dr. Andy Lemley and Greg Schoenling that would create a pickleball complex, live music venue, sports bar and permanent food‑truck spaces, with an estimated $1.5 million in private investment and 30–40 jobs anticipated.

In Mount Healthy, Alloy recommended pursuing National Register designation for a cluster of five city‑owned commercial buildings to enable state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits. Alloy also proposed a public gathering space called the Hive for events and partnerships with the Port of Greater Cincinnati to support scattered‑site infill homeownership; Alloy noted that new single‑family development often requires subsidy to be affordable to workforce households.

In Laughlin, Alloy described work on the 12‑acre former Stearns & Foster mattress campus, known as the Lock Site, and the adjacent Mill and Dunn historic business district. Developers expressed uncertainty about the timing and impacts of planned Interstate 75 lane reunification near the site. Alloy recommended short‑term catalytic steps, including relocating a historic bandstand to the Lock Site to provide green buffer space and pursuing acquisition and redevelopment of a key historic downtown building. Laughlin received a $290,000 EIP grant for acquisition of that building and Alloy is pursuing additional predevelopment funding.

Alloy said it also carried out small‑business outreach “blitzes” in Cheviot and Mount Healthy; registrants from those communities represented 8 percent of attendees at a county small‑business day event following the blitzes. Fitzgerald said Alloy will continue grant administration, procurement support and project management for the three pilot communities.

Commissioners praised the outreach and said the county should continue supporting underresourced communities with implementation help. No formal county action was taken at the presentation; commissioners welcomed further updates and asked staff to continue CIP oversight.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hamilton County Commissioners Staff Meeting 7/15/25","oneSentenceSummary","Alloy Development reported to Hamilton County commissioners that its Community Impact Program has guided Cheviot, Mount Healthy and Laughlin through procurement, grant administration and project planning; Cheviot selected a developer for a former downtown department store building and Laughlin won an acquisition grant for a downtown landmark.","taxTitle","Hamilton County, Ohio","taxId",2657,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6169081,"MSD proposes rate allocation changes and three pilot programs instead of an impervious‑surface fee",4700,3416000,8116000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5405233-0f28ac791aff944c536f768cb0ba1c70&start=3416&end=8116","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5405233-0f28ac791aff944c536f768cb0ba1c70/thumbnail_3416000.jpg","/articles/6169081/Hamilton-County/Ohio/MSD-proposes-rate-allocation-changes-and-three-pilot-programs-instead-of-an-impervioussurface-fee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6169081-e430ea5a7c08a13a6a6c073581821c25/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507799&Signature=N8etEPO6oW7iPSA5fTeJH2x7JiltcZpm-3ObC83gwe~sLB6TqoIC2RM-jGsZidapwrPX9nNlt1HeHJsvP81q3QWmPjR5acZXec-mqtq1BkB3~y2qEidkTYPSJeat57E4k-d-x6UeaHIMZJu8iXW68RtaMzNSTdfRolZAfex~yBOFmJS7KsHqtLPF1iHAzkBscFsvP9FnI29-kcL0BEkFWLipZULRHDscjTbsPbPB2lmss4Lj9Aw3ldL4mMzPJKbYwqo8iXoEV70lsduQOlAyTlNWCcre5xa6p8KLHyxuXPdAR-jr7v7jER2eFx7WR916wfL7gyTpW9HT2lrfl-G5jw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Metropolitan Sewer District presented alternatives on July 15 to a previously studied wet‑weather impervious surface charge, recommending changes to rate allocation plus three pilot programs to reduce stormwater impacts without the high administrative cost of a new countywide impervious‑surface billing system.

\"Over 90% of the funds, the revenue that we bring in comes from our sewer service charge,\" Diana Christie, MSD director, told the Board of County Commissioners. Christie said the current rate design includes a monthly minimum charge based on meter size and a commodity charge for volume over 3 CCF. Residential winter averages are used to avoid billing customers for summer outdoor water use that does not reach the sewer system.

Christie said MSD and the county completed a feasibility study on a uniform wet‑weather impervious surface charge (WISC), but implementation would be operationally complex and expensive, involving large billing‑system changes for MSD's municipal billing partners. Christie said the WISC approach also risks rate instability because it would create a major charge category with many potential credit appeals.

MSD offered three near‑term alternatives:

1) Shift how unbilled inflow and infiltration (I&I) is allocated. MSD currently recovers 75 percent of unbilled I&I costs through the customer component and 25 percent through metered volume; MSD recommends moving to a 40/60 split (customer/volume). Christie said the visible effect would be removing the declining block rate so that volume above the minimum is charged at a single commodity rate. MSD expects a modest decrease for most residential bills and modest increases for commercial and industrial customers.

2) Evaluate further reduction of the monthly minimum charge (currently based on 3 CCF) to help low‑volume users such as seniors. Christie said MSD reduced the minimum from 5 CCF to 3 CCF in 2018 and will study the financial implications of reducing it further.

3) Study a transition from meter‑size billing to customer‑class billing, with additional study planned before any change that would likely be considered in 2027.

Christie said MSD favors these rate design changes because they can be implemented more quickly and with far lower administrative cost than the previously studied impervious surface charge.

Neil Frink, an MSD attorney, presented three programmatic pilots intended to directly reduce wet‑weather flows and localized backups (SBUs): a downspout‑disconnect pilot in combined‑sewer neighborhoods, a partnership pilot with municipalities to require I&I credits for new development in development‑constrained sanitary areas (proposed IGAs with Springdale and Sharonville), and a targeted program to work with the largest impervious‑site owners (properties with more than two acres of impervious surface) to offer mitigation options or phased charges. Frink said the district's monitoring, modeling and the impervious‑surface data now provide a basis to run focused pilots.

Frink noted the largest ~500 properties with more than two acres of impervious surface account for as much impervious area as about 47,000 residential properties; among the top 12 on that list are shopping centers, rail assets and Paul Brown Stadium. MSD would evaluate property‑level flows and offer options for mitigation or billing where sites send runoff to MSD's combined system.

Christie said MSD and the county will seek stakeholder feedback on these alternatives and return with budget/rate proposals this fall; some pilots and intergovernmental agreements could begin within months. Commissioners asked for stakeholder outreach, cautioned about impacts on small businesses and nonprofits, and requested clarity on timelines and potential legislation required to authorize pilots.

No rate ordinance was adopted at the meeting; MSD recommended the commissioners consider the described alternatives as more affordable and administratively feasible than the WISC studied previously.","The Metropolitan Sewer District told Hamilton County commissioners it will pursue rate‑design changes and three targeted pilot programs to reduce wet‑weather impacts — a lower‑cost alternative to a complex impervious‑surface fee that MSD says would require millions in billing system upgrades.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6169086,"Hamilton County youth advisory board pushes for youth voice in policy, cites housing and continuity gaps",1620,1830000,3450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5405233-0f28ac791aff944c536f768cb0ba1c70&start=1830&end=3450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5405233-0f28ac791aff944c536f768cb0ba1c70/thumbnail_1830000.jpg","/articles/6169086/Hamilton-County/Ohio/Hamilton-County-youth-advisory-board-pushes-for-youth-voice-in-policy-cites-housing-and-continuity-gaps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6169086-8d0bfe3811e2b2a6812295aa5afe412c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507799&Signature=Iv4jf9m0r3YTqJ-QmaY7veuDyA5iUgwA3eFbn27yyZcMeY~82oXlg4NSv67IZksY~SLk4SZyp4gyZXUDQfVAGetnIifxlJM1JkAQmdYdj1FQltt2iLR2GyNUJic9FjT13aFkmkyM4lt-ovpGkxNYGrU2O~rlLGwIGTgR3q4-N65aDqLQbPLsmvbpceBfxuRqzBI3NJo~RXSK5fGQD4gCuxg~yvLe8M4-zwx59lA4cejwE4GOsWin1nFReZRRM-dTyHDx7P17aGNeBixY-CuFIidUqeyC-96VNBoqnTRy3vTCV~HTeZQkjZ~87XAGUiYhq0D0gYYPlc0nQZ~ozIGIqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Hamilton County Youth Advisory Board told county commissioners on July 15 that youth with foster‑care experience should be central to policy decisions affecting them and urged county officials to strengthen outreach, oversight and partnerships.

\"Nothing about us without us,\" said a youth advisory coordinator, urging that youth with lived experience be included authentically in the design and oversight of services. Jalesha Brown, coordinator of the Hamilton County Youth Advisory Board, said the board was created in 2022 to elevate youth voice and improve foster‑care outcomes.

Board members and coordinators described local advocacy wins and ongoing policy campaigns. They said foster youth and alumni secured a larger share of Foster Youth Independence (FYI) vouchers — a housing voucher program modeled on Section 8 — and that Hamilton County moved from using three FYI vouchers to 25, with a maximum program allocation of 50 vouchers. The board also described a recently awarded $290,000 EIP grant (see separate agenda item) and other local assistance work.

Youth leaders identified gaps they see in the system: inconsistent foster care liaison support in school districts, eligibility cutoffs that cause youth to lose services at critical moments, and a lack of accountability for program quality. \"We don't qualify for help even when we need it the most,\" said Yane Hobbs, a youth leader and statewide advocate, describing challenges with housing and mental‑health access.

The advisory board listed several ongoing state legislative priorities: the Foster College Scholarship Act to cover final education costs, a runaway protection bill to reduce criminalization of youth fleeing unsafe homes, sibling‑connections legislation to prioritize keeping siblings together, and the Foster Youth and Driving Act to help youth obtain driver's licenses and training.

Commissioners thanked the board and said they would work to identify ways to include youth in boards and task forces, to explore partnerships with county services and with the newly formed county Office of Youth. Director Michael Patton of Job and Family Services was noted as present to hear recommendations and later follow up with county staff.

Board leaders requested continued county collaboration and said they would provide informational materials and participate in meetings. Commissioners expressed support for a countywide approach to coordinate youth services and suggested working with the Office of Youth on a consolidated portal or app for youth resources.

No formal county action was taken at the presentation; commissioners asked staff to follow up on partnership and inclusion opportunities.","County youth advisory board leaders — current and former foster youth — told commissioners the board wants to be centered in decisions affecting foster youth, highlighted wins on vouchers and local initiatives, and outlined state legislative priorities including housing, sibling placement and education supports.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6169091,"Urban League says Building Futures pre‑apprenticeship has placed graduates in construction trades",640,912000,1552000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5405233-0f28ac791aff944c536f768cb0ba1c70&start=912&end=1552","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5405233-0f28ac791aff944c536f768cb0ba1c70/thumbnail_912000.jpg","/articles/6169091/Hamilton-County/Ohio/Urban-League-says-Building-Futures-preapprenticeship-has-placed-graduates-in-construction-trades","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6169091-29cc695542c9f9be8281ff592331434f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507799&Signature=PZPsvaNKLsqtDgolcBQZvJorGw~QM-niy7ObebdNwldoVPYPu-G~01hjaX0dkBOeNZWi8~-0fBAzu3~mLkiDfq6Pgrfwaf6rcnweYVTqc1p9XK0LEG2bk6VdCZcpQ6UALbepTQdl~qeoViAFYixuLElBvmzz52-6Kfe4QyAlNpbxmXCt0pt2f7X0sCWygDfFg-LNTEEiV0lxAhTQ1bJeliSdssIGQFjMqM8f~6OzeOFZi4KEyGXXFNC8EFDlBHiSRyRbRvO5HyFYC9rquoskkRgDpjkp7-4LCFKwiCpJvtM4b0yIKepoDec9qJrP9vxR4SyJxtIbCRfKccDX8ur~Ow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Urban League told the Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners on July 15 that its Building Futures pre‑apprenticeship program has produced 66 graduates, a 93 percent graduation rate and a 64 percent employment rate to date.

Building Futures is a 12‑week pre‑apprenticeship readiness program that trains adult learners for construction‑trade careers and connects graduates to unions, private employers and nonprofit employers. \"Building Futures is a 12 week pre apprenticeship readiness program that's focusing on helping adult learners transition into careers in construction and building trades,\" said Ebony Young, senior vice president of impact at the Urban League. The program targets Hamilton County residents who are unemployed or underemployed and who live in qualified census tracts at 300 percent of the federal poverty level or below.

The program combines three weeks of soft skills training — including interpersonal skills and financial literacy — with trade‑specific instruction and safety certifications such as CPR and OSHA 10. \"Once the participants graduate the program, the goal is to connect them to employment,\" Young said. The curriculum also includes the state‑recognized multi‑craft core curriculum certification.

Dusty Bryant, director of workforce innovation and sustainability at the Urban League, presented outcome data: \"To date, we have had 66 graduates of the program with a 93 percent graduation rate and a 64 percent employment rate.\" Bryant said 43 of the 66 graduates were employed at the time of the presentation and noted a lag in the employment metric for recent cohorts. He reported a median hourly wage of $29.97 for placed graduates and a reported top wage of $50 per hour and a low of $17.12 per hour.

Program organizers described an \"earn as you learn\" model that provides weekly stipends and supportive funds to reduce participation barriers. Bryant said the Urban League has allocated more than $200,000 in stipends to date and that each participant has a $500 account for supportive services; if that account is unused it may be applied to union initiation fees. Bryant described an example graduate who entered the program from a halfway house, completed the program, joined a building trades union and now supports his family.

Presenters credited county seed funding with launching the program and said national and state partners now supplement local support. In response to commissioner questions, Bryant and Young said funding includes support from the National Urban League operating with North America's Building Trades, federally directed funding from a U.S. senator, and contributions from the Ohio Department of Transportation and the City of Cincinnati. Bryant said the program also partners with the Cincinnati Building and Construction Trades Council and the AFL‑CIO for apprenticeship placement and with the Greater Cincinnati Occupational Health Center for certifications.

The Urban League said it is running its fifth cohort and offered three cohorts in the current year. Organizers said they plan to expand to five or six cohorts next year by adding partner space with the Cincinnati Tool Bank. They also identified recruitment goals: increase women from about 14 percent of participants and engage more high‑school graduates and returning citizens.

Commissioners thanked presenters, asked for lists of employers who have hired graduates, and emphasized including women and other underrepresented groups in recruitment. Presenters said they would provide follow‑up lists to the commissioners' offices.

No formal vote or directive was recorded during the presentation; commissioners indicated interest in keeping the program on county funding and budget radar as budget planning progresses.","The Urban League presented results from Building Futures, a 12‑week pre‑apprenticeship program funded partly by Hamilton County seed money; presenters reported 66 graduates, a 93% program completion rate and a 64% employment rate, and described plans to expand cohorts and increase outreach to women and youth.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Alloy outlines Community Impact Program wins in Cheviot, Mount Healthy and Lock Site in Laughlin

MSD proposes rate allocation changes and three pilot programs instead of an impervious‑surface fee

Hamilton County youth advisory board pushes for youth voice in policy, cites housing and continuity gaps

Urban League says Building Futures pre‑apprenticeship has placed graduates in construction trades