Celebrating 50 years of service to business and citizens of Warren County and SW Ohio
Rachel A. Hutzel Observatory
2011 to 2014
APC coordinated the fundraising and construction to create the Rachel A. Hutzel Observatory, named in memory of the former Warren County prosecutor and judge. Through Jeff Blazey's telescope donation, APC worked with the Warren County Career Center on the construction of the project. In addition, APC was the driver to establish a partnership between the Warren County Astronomical Society and Camp Joy to operate and facilitate programming at the facility, which is valued at $350,000.
The building was dedicated October 3, 2014, www.warrensky.org
APC also established the Rachel A. Hutzel Endowment fund to ensure future funding support. The endowment is maintained at the Warren County Foundation.
PROJECT EXCELLENCE
1987 to Present
$50,000 annual budget
1 part-time staff person
50 volunteers
18 teachers receive awards annually
$1,000,000 plus endowment
$442,600 to 606 educators since 1988
Warren County College Task Force and Sinclair Community College
2001-2003
Area Progress Council formed The College Task Force (CTF) at the request of the county's public educational community to investigate whether Warren County would benefit from a college or community college. Warren County was ranked 6th last of the 88 counties in Ohio and Ohio ranked about 40 th in the nation in terms of adults aged 18-39 who had attended college. The CTF arranged for a county wide survey regarding the availability of higher education in the county. Based on Survey results, efforts began to bring higher education to the residents. The committee arranged a meeting with all of the neighboring intuitions to discuss providing programs.
2003-2005 Community College of Warren County (CCWC)
After two years of intense effort APC's CTF successfully completed its mission and formally disbanded December 18, 2005 when the Community College of Warren County Board of Trustees were sworn in. Members of the Board were George Terwilleger, Stephen P. Foley, Sr. and Cindy Garland (appointed by Governor Taft) along with James Baldwin, Marilyn Bashford, Mike Geygan, Brad Knapp, William B. Russell and Barney Wright (appointed by the County Commissioners). Provisions for the 2 year pilot program were included in the 2003 Ohio budget and the CCWC began providing classes at the Warren County Career Center(WCCC). At the conclusion of the pilot period, it was apparent that there was demand from Warren County residents for classes if they were available closer to home. The CCWC Board determined that Sinclair Community College could best meet the needs of Warren County residents and businesses.
2006
By an Act of Ohio Legislators, Sinclair Community College's service area was expanded to include Warren County. That same year Sinclair added two directors to represent Warren County, on of which was Barney Wright, VP Lebanon Citizens National Bank and long time APC Board member.
2006-2007
Classes continued at the WCCC provided by Sinclair Community College, Miami University-Middletown and Cincinnati State. Sinclair began a search for a suitable location for a bricks and mortar Warren County campus - over 75 sites were evaluated.
2007
February 19, 2007 - The ground breaking ceremony for the new Sinclair Community College was held on a very cold and icy morning at a location on Courseview Drive in Mason (visible from I-71). Decisions were made on which courses would provide the best value to the community. Recruitment for the first students started.
September 5, 2007 - The campus opened with 367 students enrolled in 47 classes.
September 7, 2007 - Ribbon Cutting and Welcome to the community Building A
November 1, 2013 - Ribbon Cutting and Welcome Building B
WARREN COUNTY EDUCATION COLLEGE ACCESS NETWORK (WECAN)
2003 to 2010
Establishment of a Warren County OCAN branch. The statewide program provides assistance to help as many Ohio students as possible pursue post-secondary education and provides continuing assistance to access scholarship programs already operating throughout the state.
LEADERSHIP WARREN COUNTY
2001 to Present
As one of the fastest growing counties in Ohio, the need for uniting the rural and urban areas into a common community became a concern. LWC came into existence as a way to help create our own unique identity. Addressing the needs of constantly growing clientele requires that individuals be educated and encouraged to assume leadership roles. LWC was established to challenge and enable individuals to fulfill these functions to guide their neighborhoods, businesses, organizations and the county into the future.
Leadership Warren County
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING COALITION
1999 to Present
APC has hosted an annual joint school superintendents and business leaders luncheon since the mid 1980s. In 1999 the group began meeting every other month. Such county wide cooperation between school districts and the business community is very rare. These conversations have opened the door to a number of joint ventures including the Jewell Education Foundation.
SCHOOL TO WORK
1997 - 1998
APC has been an active participant in the School-To-Work effort throughout Warren County. The program's goal is to assist students in making a smooth transition into the workforce by providing them with appropriate knowledge and experiences. Both students and teachers receive hands on business and industry work exposure.
HOUSING SUMMIT
1996
WC United Way, Mason Landen Kings Chamber and APC partnered to coordinate a study of workforce needs and housing issues. Sub groups of this study remain active. The Balanced Housing Corporation was established as result.
I-71 WIDENING COALITION
1994-1999
When the scheduled widening of I-71 between I-275 and State Route 48 was threatened due to funding problems, APC formed the I-71 Widening Coalition. The Coalition with a membership of key businesses along the corridor, worked to ensure that the widening plan remained on target. The widening from I-275 to St. Rt. 48 was completed in 2001.
WELL-HEAD AND AQUIFER PROTECTION
1992-1994 Coordinated enactment
With APC leadership, five major groups concerned with the long-range ramifications of proposed Wellhead and Aquifer Protection Regulations reached an agreement. APC position regarding Wellhead and Aquifer Protection issue is that regulations are necessary to protect underground water, but they need to be fair, enforceable and economically feasible.
ANNUAL ECONOMIC OUTLOOK BREAKFAST
1983 to Present
The annual November meeting hosts speakers who address the economic climate in Warren County, southwestern Ohio, Ohio and the United States.
BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS
1978 - Established in Warren County. Note: Merged with Greater Cincinnati BBBS January 2018
$110,000 annual budget
4 staff persons
80 volunteers
130 children directly served annually
COUNTRYSIDE YMCA
(RALPH J. STOLLE COUNTRYSIDE YMCA)
1976 - Established in Warren County and is now the largest YMCA in the United States.
$6,000,000 annual budget
63 full-time staff
400 part-time staff
350 volunteers
7,900 membership units (24,500 individuals)
40,000+ people directly served
126 acres of land
220,000 sq. ft (5 ½ A.) of building currently
Facility present Value $26,000,000
186 children in licensed day care unit
115 in licensed preschool
6 School Age Child Care sites in Warren County (350 children enrolled)
450 day campers per day throughout the Summer months
WARREN COUNTY CAREER CENTER
1976 - Joint Vocation School opened after five defeats at the polls
$23,000.00 annual budget for all funds
123 staff and teachers
200+ business advisory committee members
1,200 high school students in 32 vocational programs
7,500 adult students
200 companies used training through Adult Education in 2003
Adult and Community Education is one of Ohio's Full Service Centers
Jewell Education Foundation is benefiting all county school districts
COUNTY PLANNER
1972 - County Planner position established
$610,500 annual budget
7 staff persons
48 annual volunteers
UNITED WAY OF WARREN COUNTY
1970 - Organized in Warren County
· Local, independent 501-C-3 nonprofit organization
· Provides funding to nonprofit programs advancing education, income stability, and health
· Currently funds 55 programs through 28 difference nonprofit partner agencies
· Over 100,000 services provided last year through a United Way of Warren County funded program
COUNTY PARK DISTRICT
1970 - Formed the County Park District through petitions from each trustee in all 11 townships in the County.
$1,000,000 + annual budget
5 staff persons
13 parks established (1,075 acres & growing)
www.co.warren.oh.us/planning/index.htm
LITTLE MIAMI CONSERVANCY
(formally known as LITTLE MIAMI, INC.)
1967 - The Little Miami River was established as the first scenic river in Ohio under the Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act .