Leveraging the resources of Ohio University to support economic development in Appalachia Ohio

Since 1996, Ohio University and Bowling Green State University have jointly served as a U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) University Center covering 59 rural Ohio counties, 32 in Appalachia and 27 in northwestern Ohio. The goal is to provide local economic development efforts access to economists and experienced economic development researchers who can assist with marketing and industry studies, competitor analysis, financial pro forma and modeling, cost-benefit analysis, and technology assessments. This initiative also partners with the Ohio Economic Development Association to offer the Ohio Economic Development Institute, Ohio’s only certification for economic developers, and offers an annual  Appalachian Ohio State of the Region conference  to build a shared understanding of regional economic challenges and opportunities.

The annual Appalachian Ohio State of the Region Conference brings public officials, economic development experts, business and organizational leaders and others to Ohio University each year to discuss different issues related to economic growth in the Appalachian Ohio region.

The mayors began meeting in 1995 from the vision of several regional mayors. In 1996, they were formally incorporated as the Mayors’ Partnership for Progress, signing an agreement for technical assistance with Ohio University. The organization later became a nonprofit in 2003.

​ The Mayors’ Partnership for Progress brings together mayors and city managers from cities and villages throughout Appalachian Ohio to share information and resources and tackle common issues faced by municipalities throughout the region.

The Ohio Economic Development Institute (OEDI) is a unique continuing education program designed to meet the specific needs of Ohio’s intermediate and advanced economic development professionals.  Developed in partnership with JobsOhio and Ohio University Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, OEDI offers high quality, state-specific continuing education opportunities.

The state-specific curriculum is designed to prepare professionals and the organizations they serve to be successful and win in the highly competitive state and global economic environment. OEDI also serves as the pathway for achieving the Ohio Certified Economic Developer (Ohio CED) credential