Greater Ohio Policy Cente

What Greater Ohio Policy Cente does

Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) is a statewide, non-partisan 501(c)(3) non-profit policy research and advocacy organization founded in 2008 and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The organization conducts original research, develops policy recommendations, and deploys convening power to address urban decline, brownfield contamination, housing instability, and transportation infrastructure gaps across Ohio's legacy cities and metropolitan areas. GOPC's core deliverables include research reports (e.g., 'Ohio + Columbus: A Tale of Two States,' 'Equitably Developing America's Smaller Legacy Cities,' 'Building on the Brownfields Momentum'), resource guides and toolkits (e.g., 'Housing Ohio: Tools for Development' with Ohio REALTORS, 'How to Build Safe, Vibrant Streets in Ohio'), and recurring convenings (biennial Greater Ohio Summit, annual Ohio Active Transportation Conference, annual Ohio Brownfields Conference). These outputs are funded by foundation grants, donations, and partnership support, and are provided at no cost to Ohio municipalities, state policymakers, and community development practitioners.

GOPC operates with a lean staff of 1-10 employees led by Executive Director Alison D. Goebel, Ph.D., and functions as a trusted policy advisor to the Ohio General Assembly, with documented influence on major legislative outcomes including the $500 million brownfield and demolition investment secured in Ohio's 2021 state budget and the Brownfield Remediation Program, which has disbursed $659 million in grants across all 88 Ohio counties through 2025. The organization engages statewide through direct outreach, regional meetings, webinars, and biannual policy summits, and maintains strategic partnerships with the Ohio Department of Development, Ohio Land Bank Association, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Reinvestment Fund, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and Ohio REALTORS. Its mission targets the more than 64% of Ohioans living in legacy cities or their anchored metro areas, with particular focus on supporting Ohio's 20 legacy cities in reversing population loss, economic decline, and disinvestment.

Name

Greater Ohio Policy Cente

Legal name

Greater Ohio Policy Center

Website

https://greaterohio.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Greater Ohio Policy Center is a statewide non-partisan policy research and advocacy organization that conducts research, develops policy recommendations, and convenes stakeholders to revitalize Ohio's legacy cities through brownfield remediation, housing development, and transportation planning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Advocacy Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban Renewal, Brownfield Redevelopment & Land Reuse (BPAIANAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brownfield Site Assessment & Remediation (BPALAKAA), Brownfield Redevelopment & Land Reclamation (Cleanup for Reuse, Risk-Based Closure) (EUAIALAI)

Keywords

• Urban policy research
• Community revitalization advocacy
• Brownfield redevelopment policy
• Legacy city planning
• Affordable housing policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding and Donations: GOPC operates as a non-profit organization funded through grants and donations. The organization undertakes original research and analysis supported by foundations and public funding. Their work includes a 2027-2028 Public Policy Agenda and various publications funded by partners like the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Greater Ohio Policy Center conducts original policy research, develops pragmatic policy recommendations and advocacy strategies, and convenes Ohio's local change-makers through publications, conferences, webinars, and direct engagement with statehouse policymakers. Its work spans brownfield remediation, housing development, active transportation planning, Opportunity Zones, and legacy city revitalization across Ohio. Offerings include free research reports, resource guides, toolkits (e.g., Housing Ohio: Tools for Development), and signature events such as the biennial Greater Ohio Summit.

Product overview

Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) is a statewide non-profit, non-partisan organization with a mission to improve Ohio's communities through smart growth strategies and research. GOPC's offerings consist primarily of policy research publications, resource guides, toolkits, conferences, and advocacy programs—not commercial software products. Core offerings include: research reports on topics such as legacy cities, brownfields, housing, and transportation (e.g., 'Ohio + Columbus: A Tale of Two States', 'Equitably Developing America's Smaller Legacy Cities'); practical resource guides like the 'How to Build Safe, Vibrant Streets in Ohio: A Guide for Non-Engineers' volumes; the 'Housing Ohio: Tools for Development' toolkit created with Ohio REALTORS; and event programs including the Ohio Active Transportation Conference, Ohio Brownfields Conference, and the biennial Greater Ohio Summit. GOPC also publishes an Active Transportation Newsletter and maintains a blog with policy analysis. These offerings work together to fulfill GOPC's mission of advancing strong local economies and community revitalization across Ohio through place-based research, collaboration, and advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Greater Ohio Summit Biennial convening bringing together change-makers from Ohio's local communities, state and national experts, and leaders to share best practices, facilitate connections, and champion public policy change on urban revitalization and sustainable growth.
• Ohio Active Transportation Conference Annual conference focused on bike and pedestrian infrastructure, funding and financing for complete streets improvements, public education strategies, and active transportation best practices, serving Ohio planners, advocates, and local government officials.
• Ohio Brownfields Conference Annual conference for brownfield stakeholders to discuss remediation strategies, funding opportunities, policy updates, and redevelopment best practices across Ohio.
• Revitalizing Ohio's Brownfields Initiative Statewide initiative focused on brownfield remediation advocacy, research, and support for Ohio communities seeking to assess, clean up, and redevelop environmentally contaminated sites.
• How to Build Safe, Vibrant Streets in Ohio: A Guide for Non-Engineers Practical guide for non-engineers on implementing active transportation projects in Ohio, including planning tips, funding sources, case studies, and state and federal technical assistance programs.
• Housing Ohio: Tools for Development Toolkit created in partnership with Ohio REALTORS that aims to reduce barriers to new housing development, with a focus on revitalizing underutilized areas in established neighborhoods across Ohio.
• Equitably Developing America's Smaller Legacy Cities Policy Focus Report published in partnership with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy that provides strategies for equitable development in smaller legacy cities with populations of 30,000 to 200,000 residents.
• Ohio + Columbus: A Tale of Two States Report analyzing 2020 Census data to identify demographic and economic trends across Ohio, confirming that high growth is concentrated in Columbus while much of the state exhibits legacy place characteristics.
• Building on the Brownfields Momentum Analysis of Ohio's Brownfield Remediation Program over the 2021-2025 period, examining grant distribution and program outcomes across all 88 Ohio counties.
• Greater Ohio Policy Center Blog Blog featuring articles on urban revitalization, transportation, housing, brownfields, legacy cities, and policy issues affecting Ohio communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly $350 million in brownfield funding secured through advocacy
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Ohio REALTORScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2025GOPC and Ohio REALTORS partnered to create Housing Ohio: Tools for Development, a toolkit aimed at reducing barriers to new housing development with a focus on revitalizing underutilized areas in established neighborhoods.
• Reinvestment FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2024GOPC partnered with Reinvestment Fund to produce a Housing Action Plan and Market Value Analysis for the City of Akron, Ohio, providing comprehensive housing analysis and market assessment.
• Lincoln Institute of Land PolicycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2021GOPC partnered with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy to publish Equitably Developing America's Smaller Legacy Cities, a Policy Focus Report providing strategies for equitable development in smaller legacy cities.
• Ohio Department of DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGOPC works with ODOD on brownfield remediation programs, Opportunity Zones initiatives, and housing policy. They co-host webinars on topics like Opportunity Zones 2.0 nomination process.
• Ohio Land Bank AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGOPC works with Ohio Land Bank Association as a committed stakeholder to ensure Brownfield Remediation Program and Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Programs are designed to have maximum impact on Ohio communities.
• Ohio General AssemblycoreOthersGOPC engages with Ohio legislators on policy matters including brownfield funding (HB143/SB84), transportation budgets, and municipal income tax provisions. They provide testimony and policy recommendations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Smart Growth America: National non-profit advocacy organization promoting walkable, mixed-use neighborhood development and smart growth policies. Highly comparable to GOPC as a policy and advocacy organization focused on urban revitalization, though operating at the national rather than state level.
• Reinvestment Fund: National non-profit CDFI providing capital and conducting policy analysis for equitable community development. Direct peer and existing partner—collaborated with GOPC on the City of Akron Housing Action Plan and Market Value Analysis.
• PolicyLink: National research and advocacy organization advancing racial and economic equity through policy. Comparable to GOPC's equitable development work, advocacy methodology, and focus on legacy cities, though broader in scope across multiple states.
• Center for Community Progress: National non-profit focused on land banks, vacant property remediation, and equitable urban revitalization. Directly comparable to GOPC's brownfield remediation, demolition, and legacy city work—often partnering on shared policy goals.
• Lincoln Institute of Land Policy: Non-profit policy research organization focused on land policy, equitable development, and legacy cities. Direct peer to GOPC and existing partner—the two have co-published reports like 'Equitably Developing America's Smaller Legacy Cities.'

Regional players

• Ohio Municipal League: Ohio-focused membership association representing municipal governments and their interests before the state legislature. Comparable to GOPC's Ohio-specific policy advocacy for cities and its engagement with the Ohio General Assembly, though OML is membership-funded while GOPC is grant-funded.

Broad incumbents

• National League of Cities: Non-profit advocacy organization representing municipal governments across the United States. Comparable to GOPC's mission of supporting Ohio local governments on housing, infrastructure, and economic development policy, though national in scope.
• Urban Land Institute (ULI): Global non-profit research and education organization focused on land use and real estate development. Comparable to GOPC's brownfield redevelopment, housing, and responsible development initiatives, but operating at much larger scale with a broader industry membership base.
• National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO): Membership-based policy advocacy organization promoting better urban street design and active transportation. Comparable to GOPC's Ohio Active Transportation Conference and transportation advocacy work, though NACTO operates nationally across major cities.
• Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program: Think tank producing research on economic and social challenges facing cities and metropolitan areas. Comparable to GOPC's research-driven approach to legacy city challenges, though operating at federal/national policy level with significantly larger resources.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GreaterOhio
• Xx.com/GreaterOhio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Greater Ohio Policy Cente