While Troy was not among 15 communities selected to continue in the America’s Best Communities (ABC) competition, it will pursue independently the four revitalization initiatives identified in the ABC process.
“It may not have turned out exactly as we had hoped for but I believe strongly that we always need to look at the sunny side and we will make our optimism come true in this community,” Mayor Mike Beamish told those gathered Jan. 14 at the Community Connection Center. The center on the northeast corner of the Public Square was opened last year as part of the ABC project.
Troy was one of 50 communities selected last year to advance to the ABC quarterfinals.
With the selection, Troy was awarded $50,000 to construct a Community Revitalization Plan. Frontier Communications, DISH Network, CoBank and The Weather Channel — the sponsors of the competition — provided $35,000 of the award, with the remaining $15,000 in funding coming from Troy’s Adopt-a-Community mentor JPMorgan Chase in Troy.
The ABC semi-finalists were announced Jan. 13.
Beamish, who served as the Troy Revitalization Committee co-chair, said he continues to believe Troy is the best community. “I really believe it is because we have people like you who do things to make it great,” he said.
Ed Westmeyer, who served as the committee co-chairman, thanked those who worked on identifying and developing the four ABC initiatives.
Also offering thanks was J.C. Wallace of the Troy Area Chamber of Commerce and the Troy Development Council. “We have a great program. We will keep moving forward,” he said of the revitalization plan.
The four initiatives in the revitalization plan are:
- Provide the community with a process to develop sustainable leadership
- Provide a platform through which information on what is happening across the community is available quickly and efficiently
- Offer a comprehensive riverfront redevelopment plan
- Offer a well-connected community through improved technology and infrastructure.
Bethany Yost of Frontier Communications in southwest Ohio said she truly expected Troy would be one of the communities to move forward in the competition. “When I look at Troy, I see the strongest sense of community that I’ve ever seen,” she said.
America’s Best Communities is a multi-stage, three-year competition that is providing $4 million in seed money and other support to assist communities as they develop new economic growth strategies.
The top three communities will share a total of $6 million in grand prize money. The winning community will be awarded $3 million, with $2 million for second place and $1 million for third.
