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������ and the city of ������, Ohio, were awarded the inaugural Catalytic Partnership Award for their collaboration to revitalize downtown ������ and improve the connectivity of the campus and the city.

The Greater Ohio Policy Center established the Catalytic Partnership Award this year for communities that experience positive effects when sectors creatively and effectively collaborate to meet common goals for sustainable development. 

A total of $130 million was invested in a redevelopment plan for downtown ������ to bring economic growth to the city. The partnership between the city and the university helped to successfully accomplish the following projects:

• The PARTA Central Gateway, which brings pedestrians, bicyclists, bus riders and motorists together in an eco-friendly building
• Acorn Alley I and II and Acorn Corner, which encompass shops, restaurants, office space and upscale apartments
• The ������ State Hotel and Conference Center
• “College Town ������,” which cohesively integrates retail stores, corporate offices, dining and residential living spaces 
• The ������ Court House 
• Expansion of the Lester A. Lefton Esplanade, which includes the Wick Poetry Center and Poetry Park and connects the campus to the business district of ������
• Upgraded traffic signals, signs, lighting, trash cans, planters and placemaking

Gregg S. Floyd, ������ State’s senior vice president for finance and administration, said the revitalization of downtown would not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of strong partnerships with the city, PARTA, local developers and the university. 

“These types of partnerships only occur when each side has the backing of its leaders,” Floyd said. “From the university’s perspective, the Board of Trustees, President [Beverly] Warren and President Emeritus [Lester] Lefton provided strong support, which contributed greatly to the favorable outcome.”  

Floyd also noted the support of ������ City Council and the contributions of the late Dan Smith, who was the city’s economic development director. 

“Dan worked diligently on this project and was one of its strongest advocates,” Floyd said.

Dave Ruller, ������’s city manager, said the city and university have a mutual commitment to the town-gown partnership, which has made collaboration a top priority.

“The city and university have taken the idea of partnership to heart, and the positive impacts for both have been unprecedented,” Ruller said. “Across the country, university cities are recognized as being some of the most vibrant, engaging and fun places to be, and we’re proud to have ������ being recognized as one of those great cities. We share services, responsibilities, ideas and resources – but most importantly we share a passion for our shared hometown.”

Ruller said that the transformation of downtown ������ would not have been possible if the city and the university did not believe that ������’s downtown mattered to their shared future.

“������ is a relatively small-sized city, but with one of the largest state universities in Ohio as our neighbor, we’ve been able to do some things that most cities only dream about,” Ruller said. “We don’t do all of this work to get awards, but when awards come along, it’s a great validation that we’re on the right track and our peers consider our work ‘best in class,’ which is a real honor. The greatest satisfaction comes from seeing residents, visitors, students and faculty enjoying the downtown sights and sounds and amenities.” 

The redevelopment project worked to align the city, university and business assets in such a way that downtown would become a catalyst for economic revival. The project supplied 969 construction jobs, created more than 700 permanent jobs in ������’s Central Business District, opened or expanded nearly 50 businesses, and increased commercial investment to an average of $55 million per year. The city of ������ and ������ State continue to work together to revitalize ������ with ongoing projects like the construction of new academic buildings on the ������ Campus, a new municipal public safety center, the connection of the Lefton Esplanade and Portage Hike and Bike Trail, and the upcoming road improvements to a section of Summit Street that runs through campus.

For more information about the city of ������, visit .

For more information about ������ State, visit www.kent.edu.

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Photo Captions:
Photo of ������ State students touring downtown ������:
New ������ students tour downtown ������, Ohio, as part of Welcome Weekend activities in the fall.

Photo of award presentation to city of ������ and ������ State:
Christopher Jones (far right), president of the Greater Ohio Policy Center’s Board of Trustees, presents the Catalytic Partnership Award to (left to right) Tom Wilke of the city of ������, Kelvin Berry of ������ and ������ Mayor Jerry Fiala. (Photo credit: Ohio Development Services Agency)

Media Contacts:
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595
Tom Wilke, wilket@kent-ohio.org, 330-676-7582