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Chillicothe Gazette

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Regional effort targets growth around DOE Portsmouth Site

A new regional planning effort aims to help southern Ohio communities prepare for growth around the U.S. Department of Energy's Portsmouth Site in Pike County. Ohio University's Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service PORTSfuture Program and national planning firm Planning NEXT are launching the initiative through a U.S. Department of Energy grant, according to a community announcement. The effort will focus on preparing communities for growth through coordinated planning for housing, workforce and infrastructure needs. "The PORTSfuture Program is rooted in expanding community stakeholder engagement through outreach efforts and partnerships that foster long-term economic vitality," PORTSfuture Director Stephanie Howe said. "Planning NEXT represents a natural progression of this effort to turn years of community insights into real-world readiness." Ohio University has worked in the region through PORTSfuture since 2010, supporting community engagement and planning related to reuse of the Portsmouth Site. Communities will develop regional priorities Planning NEXT will lead a community-driven process intended to create a shared vision for long-term growth. The work will identify priority projects and policies involving housing, workforce and infrastructure and help local leaders pursue state and federal funding. "When this work is done, communities around the Portsmouth Site will have a unified plan

Pike County, OH · 1d