OHIO’s Voinovich School honored with 2025 Impact Award from National Association of Development Organizations

Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service has been recognized with a 2025 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for the Appalachia Ohio Regional GIS Collaborative project.

The Voinovich School, in partnership with the Mayors’ Partnership for Progress, Buckeye Hills Regional Council, Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association, Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission and Eastgate Council of Governments, has been recognized for its innovative work focusing on community and economic development in Appalachian Ohio. The team earned the award for the Appalachia Ohio Regional GIS Collaborative, a project that uses data and mapping to empower communities across the region.

This initiative connects university researchers, local governments and regional development organizations to share and use geographic information systems (GIS) data. The new online data hub offers interactive maps, dashboards and additional resources from authoritative sources covering all 32 Appalachian Ohio counties. This helps local leaders and planners make informed decisions about important issues like infrastructure, workforce development, housing and broadband access.

For the Voinovich School, this award reflects the importance of research, leadership and partnership coming together to create positive change in Appalachian Ohio. The project stood out for its data-driven, hands-on approach and its ability to bring diverse partners together around the shared goal of building stronger, more connected communities across the Appalachian region.

Presented annually, the NADO Impact Awards honor regional development organizations and their partners for strengthening communities, building regional resilience and enhancing local economies through innovative approaches to economic and community development. NADO is a Washington, DC-based membership association of regional development organizations that promotes programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities and economies.

This year’s cohort included 90 impactful projects led by 79 organizations across 24 states. These award-winning efforts were recognized during NADO’s 2025 Annual Training Conference, held in October in Salt Lake City, Utah. All selected projects are featured in an interactive StoryMap that showcases summaries, images, and key partners. The map is available at www.nado.org/2025impactawards/.

“The Impact Awards are an annual reminder of the creativity and commitment that regional development organizations bring to their communities,” said 2024-2025 NADO President Rick Hunsaker, Executive Director of the Region XII Council of Governments in Iowa. “This year’s awardees show how local and regional partnerships, driven by vision and collaboration, can lead to lasting positive change across our country.”

The Impact Awards are presented in memory of Aliceann Wohlbruck, NADO’s first executive director, who was a lifelong advocate for regional solutions and rural economic development.