The Ohio Community Development Corporation will be celebrating their 25th Anniversary this year in Canton, Ohio. Their annual conference will return to the McKinley Grand Hotel in downtown Canton on September 23 & 24 with the theme; A Quarter Century of Community Building in Ohio. “The Ohio CDC was last here in October of 2002 and experienced much of what Canton Stark County had to offer including many area neighborhood tours, and an off-site evening event at the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” notes Canton Stark County Convention & Visitors’ Bureau Executive Director John Kiste. “Much has changed in Canton in seven years and we are all happy to welcome the Ohio CDC Annual Conference back to see our improvements.”
Jole Owens from the Community Building Partnership of Stark County, also on the board of directors for Ohio CDC, and Cindy Lazor with the Stark Foundation, were instrumental in bringing the conference back to Canton Stark County Ohio. Three neighborhood tours are being planned. One will be in the Northwest area and will include downtown Canton, the second will be in the Northeast area and includes JR Coleman Community Renovation, and the third will be in the Southeast area.
The Ohio CDC Conference will also be experiencing the new Arts District in downtown Canton. Arts in Stark will be recreating their famous First Friday Celebration for the conference on Wednesday September 23rd from 6:30PM-9:00PM. This will be a great evening event when Canton will showcase its many art galleries and studios, unique restaurants and great entertainment.
Many Stark County organizations will be sponsoring the Ohio CDC’s Annual Conference including the Canton Stark County Convention & Visitors’ Bureau, who will also assist with any of the conferences’ planning needs as the dates get closer. Currently the associations’ Manager of Member Services Celia Elkins has sent out a call for sessions to be follwed by a survey targeted at involving its members in planning the eductional component of the conference, ensuring that it is relevant to their needs. “We love coming to Canton, they really roll out the red carpet for us; the Stark County community and the Convention & Visitors’ Bureau are both great to work with,” says Celia. If you would like more informaiton on the conference or Ohio CDC go to www.ohiocdc.org or contact Celia Elkins at 614-461-6392, ext 201 or email celkins@ohiocdc.org. WELCOME BACK!!!
About Ohio CDC: The Ohio Community Development Corporation was organized in 1983-1984 through a grant made possible by the George Gund Foundation through the National Congress on Community Economic Development, the national trade association for CDC’s. The Ohio CDC Association is a statewide membership organizaiton of Community Development Corporations that engages in capacity-building, advocacy and public policy development that fosters socially and economically healthy communities. OCDCA’s vision is the creation of a community development environment that comprehensively improves life opportunities for all residents.
