Welcome to the UT Urban Affairs Center
The Urban Affairs Center is an applied research unit of The University of Toledo within the Office of Research and a member of the Ohio Urban University Program. Our mission is to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life of Toledo and its metropolitan region. We strive to make this site useful and accessible to the our community, and we welcome your comments.
IGU Commission Toledo Conference on Local Food Systems: August 2010
UAC Director Dr. Neil Reid, Vice-Chair of
The International Geographical Union Commission on
“The Dynamics of Economic Spaces”,
is pleased to announce the 2010 Toledo IGU Conference:
Local Food Systems in Old Industrial Regions: Challenges and Opportunities.
In recent years there has been an explosion of interest in the topic of local food systems. This heightened interest can be found among policy makers, planners, public health professionals, environmentalists, community developers, academics, farmers and ordinary citizens. While there are common characteristics that most local food systems share the purpose of this conference is to explore the unique challenges and opportunities associated with local food systems located within old industrial regions
The conference is scheduled for August 3-7, 2010 at the Toledo Hilton. Use the above link for more information and registration details.
UAC Collaborates with CCI & Hancock County Agencies on Indicators Website
UAC has collaborated with the Center for Creative Instruction
and community agencies from Hancock County, Ohio, to design and build a community indicators web site:
Hancock County Revealed, “an effort to provide current, relevant, and accurate information related to the issues and challenges
faced by the people of Hancock County.” The agencies from Hancock County in this effort were the
Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, the
Hancock County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services, and the
United Way of Hancock County.
New UAC Studies: Sustainability Family Style & Shrinking Cities
UAC, with support from the Ohio Humanities Council, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and the assistance of The National Center for Nature Photography/Metroparks, conducted interviews with Northwest Ohio farmers and growers from six families. The aim of our project was to explore how growers and family farmers have coped with changes in the business of agriculture and the diversification of the area economy. >> Read the report here.
The concept of shrinking cities has received a lot of attention in the last few years, but much of the initial focus has been on Europe. While research on shrinking cities in the United States is still nascent, the challenge is acute in the industrial midwest, where cities are facing the consequences of the decline of the manufacturing industry. More recently, the housing foreclosure crisis has also had severe impacts on these old industrial cities. This report seeks to highlight and categorize land use planning responses to shrinkage in selected small and medium sized cities in the rustbelt. >> Read the report here.
Lucas County Community Satisfaction Survey
The UAC Survey Research Lab conducted a survey of just over 2000 Lucas County residents to gain information about issues and challenges facing Lucas County residents and to determine their level of satisfaction with a variety of public services. The results of this survey can be used by local government and non-profits for program development and can provide guidance to local jurisdictions as they are faced with setting budget priorities and making decisions about the services they provide to their constituents.
>> View the survey results here.
The Northwest Ohio Economic Research Collaborative
The Northwest Ohio Economic Research Collaborative (NWOERC) is an initiative aimed at identifying industry clusters that drive our region's economy and play a role in its future health. We encourage you to visit the NWOERC web page to read the latest information about this important project.
UAC Named EPROCA's North American Training Center
In January of 2009, UAC Director Dr. Neil Reid was appointed
to the Executive Committee of EPROCA (the European ProClusters' Association)
and to their Cluster Facilitatior Training Team.
As a result of this as well as Dr. Reid's extensive experience with cluster development here in Northwest Ohio with the Maumee Valley Growers, UAC will effectively become EPROCA's North American training center.
>> Click here for more information. <<
UAC's Survey Research Services
The UAC works with clients to develop and conduct surveys to facilitate analysis and policy-making. Click here for more information.
UAC Quick Links
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