Goal, Strategies and Initiatives
It used to be that regions grew because of natural resources or trade routes. Today, regions grow because they have highly educated and productive people. These individuals are in demand and can choose where they live and work. To attract and retain skilled and talented workers, Northern Kentucky set the goal of being recognized internationally, nationally and regionally for its livability for all residents.
Seven strategies for achieving livable communities:
- Establish an integrated system of regional parks, green space and tourist destinations
- Promote the development of an international community that attracts, retains and celebrates people from diverse backgrounds
- Foster a vibrant arts, cultural and entertainment community
- Conduct ongoing health and social assessments and implement a comprehensive regional approach to meet and fund those needs
- Replace the Brent Spence Bridge with an internationally acclaimed design
- Enhance our quality of life by addressing our infrastructure and environmental needs with a balanced approach to our region’s growth
- Expand the use and reach of our non-rail transit system throughout our region
Latest Developments on Related Initiatives
Greenway Trailblazer Celebration | Phase I Groundbreaking
Join us on Saturday, May 5th 2012 for the Greenway Trailblazer Celebration. The event will take place on the corner
of Eastern and Levassor Avenues from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm. There will be
plenty of food and fun for the whole family including prizes and free
give-aways, children's activities and a live band. Join us as we
celebrate the beginning of the next step in our Greenway and Trail
master plan!
Addressing Health Needs
www.nkyhealth.org
In 2010, Northern Kentuckians worked to assess the needs of health in our region. Now it is time to implement solutions. Under the leadership of Tony Hyott, Director of Strategic Planning with St. Elizabeth Healthcare, the “Connecting to Health Team” comprised of leaders from all major health providers in Northern Kentucky: St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Northern Kentucky Health Department, NorthKey and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center as well as HealthCare Access Now, United Way and Vision 2015, has been formed to develop and monitor community level indicators of health and identify strategies for improving access to health care.
This team was charged with addressing the accessibility issues called out in the Vision for a Healthy and Vibrant Community report as identified by local citizens and stakeholders. The Connecting to Health Team took time to do additional research and analyze existing data from a variety of sources to initially find that the most pressing need is in Grant County. Further targeting of the research and on-the-ground data gathering, however, has allowed the Connecting to Health team to elaborate on the need, which now appears to be more related to connectivity than accessibility, due to factors including poverty, transportation challenges and cultural norms. The Connecting to Health team is working with health care and community leaders in Grant County to better understand use of the existing health care system and develop specific strategies to address potential provider/patient connectivity issues as well as other factors that may improve the overall health of Grant County residents. Sub teams focusing on childhood obesity and healthy lifestyles have been.
In an innovative step toward increased collaboration among two regional health care providers, St. Elizabeth and Northkey have received a grant for $200,000 from the Foundation for a Healthy KY for a tele-psychiatry program that will better address the needs of individuals coming into the emergency department with mental and behavioral health issues.
Child Health Report
In addition to the implementation of our regional health and social needs assessment, work has also continued in Northern Kentucky on other specific aspects of health and its impact on people’s daily lives and livelihoods. In April 2010, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center’s Child Policy Research Center published Child Health in Northern Kentucky with Vision 2015 and the VHVC effort. Click here to access the full report.
Bold Goals
Also, in February 2011, United Way released Bold Goals for Income, Education and Health along with Agenda 360, Vision 2015, and many community partners. These Bold Goals represent a system-wide approach to large-scale change and achievement. Under the Health framework for helping individuals live quality lives and achieve maximum health and independence, two specific goals are 1.) By 2020, at least 70% of the community will report having excellent or very good health and 2.) By 2020, at least 95% of the community will report having a usual place to go for medical care. These clear goals represent a collaborative effort to achieve our health-related objectives and provide further support for the regional health assessment and planning efforts described above. For more on the Bold Goals, click here.
Sustainability Leadership Forum
A kick off meeting at the Cincinnati Red Cross was a great start for our new venture in the area of sustainability - Green Umbrella. Over 170 folks from nearly 100 organizations, businesses, governmental entities and educational institutions from throughout the region around Greater Cincinnati were in attendance. This meeting follows the invitation-only “Sustainability Leadership Forum” held in March, Vision 2015 and Agenda 360 have been convening key leaders for the creation of an enhanced network of sustainability initiatives. This network will be housed in the existing
non-profit Green Umbrella, which won a two year, $80,000 capacity-building grant from the Greater
Cincinnati Foundation. Green Umbrella is currently evolving its board, mission and vision to take on an
expanded role in broader sustainability initiatives as a whole, with nature-based activities being one part
of that work. 9 action teams have been formed to broaden the work and include a diverse group of regional stakeholders. An official launch of the new Green Umbrella website will be out later this fall.
SustainabilityLeadershipForum-LarryFalkin-Bridging The Gap.pdf
SustainabilityLeadershipForum-MattMehalik.pdf
SustainabilityLeadershipForum-Paul Ettorre-SC 2019.pdf
Licking River Greenway and Trails http://lickingrivertrail.org/ http://www.lrgbrownfield.org/
In 2008, Vision 2015 published the Licking River Greenway and Trails masterplan. In 2010, with the help of consultants, municipalities and volunteers, design standards were finalized to assure that the trails developed are consistent through out the region.
The immediate focuses of the Licking River project is to 1) Obtain funding to pave the first mile of trail on the Covington flood wall (a state grant and private funds has been received and this segment is now fully funded). 2) Determine an organizational structure for governance of the Trails and Greenway (an inter-local agreement has been finalized Covington, Wilder and Taylor Mill). 3) Get trails on the ground for immediate enjoyment and use by residents.
The Licking River project has received good news in terms of project funding and cooperation from the cities adjacent to the Licking. A recreational trails grant in the amount of $80,000 has been secured to build phase I of paved trail from Randolph Park to Holmes High School in Covington. The full cost of this phase is $260,000. $20,000 has been donated by a private citizen and the City will fund a portion of this out of their general fund as well as doing a lot of the work in-house. This first phase will allow us to test our design standards and get a tangible piece of the trail in place for residents to use and enjoy. The paved trail is expected to be complete in the spring of 2012.
The Kenton County Conservancy has received $20,000 from Greater Cincinnati Foundation for Greenway restoration and the Conservancy has donated an additional $10,000 from SD1 Consent Decree funds. These funds have allowed us to work with the Center for Applied Ecology at NKU to develop a Greenway Restoration handbook and work plan.
Humana has invested $100,000 in this project through their community impact grant award. These funds will allow a key portion of the gravel trail to be developed. The exact segment has not been determined, but this funding will support nature trails in the vicinity of 16th Street in Covington. This portion of trail will open in spring 2012 along with the paved trail making for a great start to the entire system. Kenton County Public Works has agreed to partner with us on this project and will assist with the construction of these nature trails.
The National Parks Service has officially endorsed Licking River Greenway and Trails as a supporting partner and will offer technical assistance towards the development of a water trail in 2012.
Seven Greenway Restoration days are scheduled for 2012:
February 11
March 24
May 5
June 30
August 11
September 29
November 17
To RSVP or to request more information, please email Natalie Gardner at ngardner@covingtonky.org.
The next community volunteer day is scheduled for Saturday Feb. 11, 2012 from 9am – noon. Contact the Covington Recreation Department to volunteer.
Northern Kentucky has formed the Licking River Brownfield Coalition. The Coalition is under the leadership of the Northern Kentucky Area Development District, Campbell County and the City of Covington. $200,000 has been obtained for Petroleum Brownfield assessment.
http://www.lrgbrownfield.org/
E-newsletters are sent monthly to report progress on this project. To sign up to receive the Licking River Greenway and Trails newsletter email kclark@vision2015.org.
Opportunity Alliance
On June 17, 2008 United Way of Greater Cincinnati hosted a Financial Stability Summit. The Summit was an unprecedented convening of key stakeholders from our region to improve our efforts in helping individuals and families move toward financial stability. The goal was to work toward an integrated, high-impact regional financial stability system, taking into consideration research and best practices, and organizing support for key policy reforms. Following the Summit, a group of over 50 agencies and numerous stakeholders and community leaders came together to form the Financial Stability Coordinating Council. Eight task forces were identified by the Coordinating Council. Five were already in existence, but their work would need to be expanded or aligned to get the most impact. The Task Forces are as follows:
- Career Pathways and Middle-Skill Jobs
- Hard2Hire Network
- Default and Foreclosure Prevention
- Benefits Take-Up
- New Financial Products
- Financial Education, Credit Counseling and Credit Repair
- Earned Income Tax Credit
- Centers for Financial Stability