Akron’s regional partners can be our immediate neighbors, Summit County, nearby counties, or northeast Ohio.

Regional partners are need based or legislatively mandated.

Delivery of essential services will come from the most effective level of organization.

Strategy: Utilize Akron’s capacity to provide essential services to neighbors or consider metropolitan service delivery

Resources: Akron’s capacity to deliver sewer and water services, EMS and fire protection and safety services can be expanded on a fee basis.

Increased revenue sharing will occur among appropriate partners.

Strategy: Share in the revenue from increased development that is the result of cooperative measures.

Resources: Joint Economic Development type of agreements Collection of tax

There will be cooperative purchase of service and material to benefit from economies of scale.

Strategy: Regional partnerships can purchase basic utilities (gas, electric, phone) in cost effective manner for citizens or use by municipal entities.

Solving of common or shared problems in creative and cooperative ways will be established.

Strategy: When problem solving, consider utilizing resources, experience or abilities of other governmental units rather than always seeking to address issues alone.

Resources: The Akron/Summit County metropolitan region should turn its attention to the Canton/Stark County region as a cooperative growth area.

The transportation linkage of Interstate 77 and the Akron Canton Airport, the regional planning association of NEFCO, the Foreign Trade Zone and the associations from NEOTED provide the basis for greater partnership.