CREDA Northern Ohio hosted a legislative panel that focused on the effective advocacy of CREDA’s Ohio chapters in working with state legislators to advance policies supporting continued economic growth and community development. The panel included Senate Finance Chair Jerry Cirino, Senate Housing Committee Vice Chair Jane Timken, House Finance Vice Chair Mike Dovilla, House Finance Ranking Member Bride Sweeney, and House Majority Whip Steve Demetriou, and focused on state economic programs that included:

• Transformational Mixed-use Development (TMUD) Program
  TMUD ensures continued high-impact, mixed-use developments that transform underutilized sites.
• Opportunity Zone (OZ) Tax Credit Program
  he state OZ program complements the federal approach to advance economic growth in underserved communities.
• Brownfield Remediation Program
  Continued funding ensures investment in site-ready development of brownfields.
• Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program
  The continuation of this program supports adaptive reuse of historic buildings in Ohio.

Prior to the panel discussion, attendees heard from CREDA 2026 Chair Celeste Tanner and CREDA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Aquiles Suarez on national trends and policies effecting CRE development.