It has been two years since COVID-19 hit Ohio. In March 2020, the first cases in Ohio were identified. School buildings closed and public events were cancelled. Scale Strategic Solutions, along with the rest of the world, shifted to a new virtual reality. As of March 17, 2022 more than 2,666,030 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the state and 37, 608 Ohioans have lost their lives due to the virus.

Since the onset of the pandemic, communities have been rethinking their resources, infrastructure, and plans. The murder of George Floyd and other examples of injustice and racial disparities across the nation in 2020 also elevated the need to do things differently.

Scale Strategic Solutions along with New Reach Community Consulting conducted stakeholder interviews and focus groups in Central Ohio in late 2020 and early 2021 to anticipate the long-term economic, social, and growth impact of the pandemic.

Informed by Scale Strategic Solutions’ work and additional community data, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission produced briefs on multiple components of the economy, infrastructure, and social fabric. These briefs were used to spark community conversation and will continue to serve as a resource for transforming information into action. For more information, visit https://www.morpc.org/covid19policybriefs/ .

How are you continuing to revisit and reimagine resources, infrastructure, and plans?