Last winter when the Fund for Our Economic Future was shaping the EfficientGovNow program, we spent a lot of time discussing that while the government collaboration projects would be important, what we also were hoping to see a change in the culture of government in Northeast Ohio. Too often our local governments are at odds with each other rather than partners in progress.
As we get ready to announce at 11 a.m. the three projects that will receive grant money from the Fund, this is a good time to take a look at how we did on that second goal. Here’s what Tony Paglia, vice president of government affairs for the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber, told us recently about the effect EfficientGovNow has had the communities in the Mahoning Valley:
Win or lose we did our best and showed the rest of Northeast Ohio that the Valley is organized, focused and working as one. The “collaboration” and unified efforts were incredible. Thanks for putting this all together. It has helped to move our area in the right direction. We’re a more united Valley than we’ve ever been before and this collaboration experience will affect the region for a long time to come.
We’ve heard similar comments from across the region. I believe EfficientGovNow has helped the region take another step in its progress toward a more vibrant economic future. And I look forward to continuing to work with Tony and others across the region to encourage more government collaboration and efficiency.