Institute for Local Government Administration and Rural Development
Policy Goal:
Increase early technical assistance to local elected officials
to implement city/village appropriate, fundable sewer/water projects in rural
Appalachia, Ohio.
ILGARD has been working with both existing and new networks in order to facilitate information sharing and collaboration around the topic of sewer and ware infrastructure. As a result, they have published a serious of deliverables to encourage information sharing and highlight the important work taking place in rural Appalachian Ohio. Similarly, ILGARD has also been researching other new and innovative programs and best management practices (BMPs) in Ohio and nationally to create a resource guide.
Issue:
Current water/sewer institutional policies are not always geared toward
implementing solutions appropriate to small, rural communities. If funders
and technical
assistance providers could become involved earlier in the project planning
process, we think
that there is more of a possibility that all parties (elected officials,
engineering firms, etc.) will become more aware of all options and local
officials will
be able to implement better, sustainable, and fundable water/sewer solutions
that
are more appropriate for their community's size. Early involvement could
involve assisting communities with initial project planning, such as conducting
a feasibility
study or hiring an engineer to do a design.
Goals:
- Work with an existing network, the Mayors' Partnership for Progress, to grow from a learning network to an influential network working on rural policy changes. Some of the participants in this network have identified many policy issues that they would like to work on. They want to start with policy change to successfully implement city/village appropriate, fundable sewer/water projects in rural Appalachia, OH.
- Work with the Small Communities Environmental Infrastructure Group (SCEIG), a state partnership of Ohio EPA, Ohio Water Development Authority, Governor's Office of Appalachia, USDA and other technical assistance providers to build mechanisms for delivering early technical assistance to rural communities in Appalachia, OH.
Interview framework for Networks for Rural Policy Development
Models Project and Best Management Practices
Cities and Villages News Article
For more information, contact Rachael Hoy at rhoy@ilgard.ohiou.edu
