City Manager: Dayton Recovery Plan - Inclusion, Imagination, Investment

There’s been a conversation going on in Dayton over the past year–a discussion involving neighbors, businesspeople, community activists, elected leaders, city planners and administrators, financial analysts, and many others. 

What’s the topic of that special conversation? Well, nothing more than the future of our city and an extraordinary opportunity to have a giant, positive impact on that future. 

You may have already heard a few things about the Dayton Recovery Plan–a roadmap for helping our city emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, made possible by the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and its $138 million grant to the City of Dayton.

Here are the priorities identified in the plan developed under my direction and adopted by the City Commission, following the community conversation involving meetings, a survey and other participation opportunities:

  • Demolition of up to 1,000 blighted properties throughout Dayton;
  • Park enhancements and eight additional spray parks (in addition to park improvements made possible by the voter-approved Issue 9 measure in 2016);
  • Housing construction and renovation in targeted areas;
  • Sidewalk/curb repairs and tree lawn upgrades in targeted areas;
  • Support for black- and brown-owned businesses, economic development and job creation;
  • Investment in essential City services and City facilities.

The plan provides a framework for infusion of ARPA funding into targeted areas and focus neighborhoods:  Wolf Creek, Edgemont, Carillon, Miami Chapel, Five Oaks, Old North Dayton, Twin Towers and the Wright Factory Site in West Dayton, as well as other special investments across Dayton, all with a goal of disrupting multi-generational poverty, income, and health disparities, while enhancing the city as a community attracting further, ongoing investment. 

An opportunity of this magnitude calls for what we might call a series of “I-words”:  Inclusion (a broad community conversation); Imagination (creative problem-solving); and Investment (strategic, data-driven actions that can make a difference). 

Though there’s currently a lull in the conversation, there is still much work going on to ensure the prudent finalization and then implementation of the Dayton Recovery Plan. That work involves evaluating available data to guide important decisions—for example, examination (on a case-by-case basis) of structure conditions, tax delinquencies, ownership status and more when making housing renovation plans, or analysis of neighborhood population data and trends to help determine new spray park locations. 

During 2021, the City solicited applications from community groups and local businesses to apply for a portion of the recovery funds to address community needs. There were 93 eligible applications, with 42 recommended for potential funding. We expect the successful applications to be announced by the time spring flowers are in full bloom and awards to be finalized by mid-2022.

For more information on the Dayton Recovery Plan, visit the daytonohio.gov/arpa.

Sep 05

[ARCHIVED] Airport's regional value continues to grow

The original item was published from September 5, 2023 4:42 PM to September 5, 2023 5:07 PM

Dayton International Airport’s role as a major center of economic activity continues to expand, with thousands of jobs added in recent years and more expected.

The airport also remains committed to growing the variety of passenger service desired by travelers.

Denver, New York

It’s no secret that travelers, business travelers in particular, appreciate direct or one-stop flights. Access to major air hubs makes this convenience possible. With the addition of a new Denver flight, there will be 13 nonstop destinations from Dayton. On September 29, United Airlines will once again provide direct service from Dayton to Denver, restoring a route that was cut in early 2022. This service to the Mile High City provides a new opportunity for Dayton travelers to connect to dozens of destinations in the West and beyond.

Business fliers: Don’t forget that two airlines, American and Delta, provide direct daily service to New York’s LaGuardia Airport from Dayton. The Delta flight was added in March of last year.

Jobs generators

For more than 10 years, the trend has been clear: Dayton International Airport is attracting site development and job creation at a pace equal to or greater than other hotspots within the Dayton region.

In fact, around 3,000 jobs have been created, mostly by logistics and light manufacturing enterprises, some with well-known names: Chewy, Crocs, Energizer and others. These jobs generators occupy around five million square feet of newly constructed space, most of it developed by NorthPoint Development, a national developer that has recognized the advantages of investing in Dayton.

Sierra Nevada Corporation recently announced its second development at Dayton International Airport, following completion of its initial state-of-the-art aircraft maintenance hangar in early 2023. The company plans an additional 100,000-sq.-

ft. hangar, employing even more skilled technicians. Sierra Nevada’s clients include branches of the United States military as well as some commercial organizations. The airport’s location, as well as the region’s workforce and aerospace resources are key factors in Sierra Nevada’s decision to grow in Dayton.

We expect additional job growth and business investment at the airport, so watch for exciting new developments.

It’s your airport

Airport leadership and staff members work “nonstop” to improve and strengthen Dayton International. You can see the results of their work in the beautifully modernized terminal and improved parking options. The airport is in continuous communication with its current and potential airline partners, letting them know the Dayton story and the region’s travel needs. You can help by choosing to fly from Dayton International. As the airport’s advertising campaign reminds us, “It’s YOUR airport…Fly Dayton.”