My Town Hustle

EP 18 - Can Trash Be Pretty?

October 22, 2020 11:00 - 25 minutes - 47 MB

In this week's episode, Sam and Jared will discuss trash. Yes, that is right, trash. From trash cans on the sidewalk to trash dumpsters in the alleyways, there are some cool ways that trash is being collected and stored in your downtowns.

EP 17 - Ideas for your Town (Session 1)

October 15, 2020 15:47 - 49 minutes - 90.2 MB

In this week's episode, Jared and Sam explore a variety of ideas that you could use in your town. These ideas are ones that both Jared and Sam are particularly passionate about. From making your city more child-friendly to the redevelopment of alleyways, listen in as they explore what a life would be like if these ideas would come true in their own community but also yours.

EP 16 - Being a Public Servant

October 08, 2020 16:33 - 44 minutes - 81.4 MB

Have you thought about going into the public sector? Do you have a desire to help your community or you are interested in local, state, or federal government? Well, in this week's episode, Bret and Sam will discuss their own journeys to becoming public servants. What their experience has been like, how has it changed, what school was like, and so much more. We are missing Jared this week as he and his wife, Alaina have welcomed a new baby into their home. Join us this week to learn more ...

EP 15 – Annexation In Cities

October 01, 2020 15:20 - 51 minutes - 93.5 MB

Do you live just outside the city? Do you live in a community that was formed like the City of Eagleton in Parks and Rec because they left a city like Pawnee to make something better? Are you missing out on an essential service because of where you live? Well, in this week's episode, we'll go over annexation. Annexation is the legal process in which municipalities can grow their boundaries into areas in which are not already incorporated into that particular municipality. Now, there are ...

EP 14 – What Is CDBG?

September 23, 2020 15:54 - 32 minutes - 60.2 MB

CDBG or otherwise known as Community Development Block Grants. Most communities have it but what exactly is it? Most people might know it because either their community uses those funds for sidewalk improvements or use them to help low-to-moderate income homes with improvements. Better yet, your community might use them for both. In this week's episode, we'll take a look at what CDBG is, why was it established, does reform need to happen?, and what we feel communities should be using thes...

EP 13 – TIFs in Small Towns

September 17, 2020 20:16 - 42 minutes - 77.4 MB

TIFs. Tax Increment Financing. What is that? Well, most developers or city planners are familiar with TIFs. TIFs are just one way to incentivize development in your community. This week, we explore how TIFS are typically used in Small Towns, and from our experience, they are used in a way that goes against what they were originally intended for. Most cities go after the big box retailers with new infrastructure which creates your "typical" on the border commercial district. When a TIF ...

EP 12 – Running For Office?

September 09, 2020 19:47 - 58 minutes - 108 MB

Thinking about running for office? Well, in this week's episode, we explore the different positions in local government. We dive into those positions as they stand in the great State of Ohio but these positions are also found throughout local governments in the United States. Are people running to serve their community or are they running so they can have a job? Being an elected official is hard work and when you are voting on one, it is important to be informed about what their goals are...

EP 11 – Geographic Information System (GIS)

September 02, 2020 16:18 - 38 minutes - 71.3 MB

GIS? What is it? Well, it stands for Geographic Information System and you can find it almost everywhere now. GIS is a great tool that provides the ability to capture, store, and display data spatially. It is way more than a pretty map, as it helps planners, public officials, and governmental organizations make decisions based on spatial patterns and relationships of data. If you wanted to know how many Maple Trees were in your neighborhood, you would have to go out and collect that data...

EP 10 – Architectural Review Boards

August 26, 2020 19:42 - 54 minutes - 99.9 MB

Do you live in a historical district? Do you consider your community either historic or charming? Well, listen in to this week's episode as we talk about Architectural Review Boards. ARBs are established through local ordinance as a historical preservation tool for historic districts either commercial or residential. If you own property within these districts that are governed by a historic preservation ordinance than you know that you have to go before a board before you make changes to ...

EP 9 – Wayfinding

August 19, 2020 19:19 - 25 minutes - 45.8 MB

Have you ever been to a new town and didn't know where to go? Are you even familiar with where public parking lots are in your own town? Well, wayfinding can help with how you get from Point A to Point B. It makes sense at an airport but why is it important in your downtown? In this week's episode, we are talking about something as simple as a sign. Too many can get messy and too little won't help. We make decisions based on visual cues so why not help citizens and tourists alike naviga...

EP 8 – Main Streets

August 12, 2020 15:39 - 43 minutes - 79.9 MB

Main Street Programs? Do you have one in your community? Well, we here at My Town Hustle enjoy our local Main Street program. From one of us being a Board Member to the other being the previous Director, we couldn't be more thrilled to have our first guest on the show. Cristie Thomas with Marietta Main Street joined us to go over all things Main Street. Main Street Programs function to revitalize historic commercial districts and strive to build a new vibrant community in those districts...

EP 7 – Comprehensive Planning

August 05, 2020 15:39 - 34 minutes - 63.9 MB

Does your city have a plan for the future? Have they spent some time with you, the public, on what that might look like or what your concerns are? Well, in this week's episode, we are going to talk about Comprehensive Planning. We go over why we think it is important, why citizens should be involved in the process, and why all public officials should use it as the guiding principle for all their decisions. Comprehensive Planning is important for the future growth of your community. Somet...

EP 6 – Statutory v. Charter Cities

July 29, 2020 14:25 - 29 minutes - 53.6 MB

Did you know there are different kinds of local government for your town? Turns out, there is! Whether you have a statutory local government, or a charter local government can change the operations and procedures of “how things get done” in your hometown. The distinction between the two often occur around a town’s stance on a particular issue but, is only ~really~ limited by general law at the state level. This episode focuses on the differences between the two forms of government along with ...

EP 5 – Complete Streets

July 23, 2020 16:16 - 25 minutes - 46.8 MB

When you are walking down your favorite street or through the main drag of your downtown, you probably aren’t thinking, “Wow, this street is not complete”, unless you are a planner or understand what a Complete Street is. Well, it is simple, Complete Streets is a transportation policy that has reshaped, redrawn, or reconstructed our city streets from vehicle focused to all types of ways we get around. This design approach is for everyone, no matter the mode of transportation that you prefer. ...

EP 4 – Zoning

July 15, 2020 18:40 - 27 minutes - 50.3 MB

ZONES!!! In this week's episode, we'll explore Zoning in our communities. Zoning dates back to the earliest twentieth century and is still applied to communities today. Although zoning laws and regulations have played both a negative or positive role in our communities, Form-Based Zoning is one tool that city leaders are using to re-imagine their communities and moving away from the separation of uses. Zoning plays such an important part in how and why our cities look the way they do but ...

EP 3 – Land Banks

July 08, 2020 15:53 - 30 minutes - 55.6 MB

Tired of looking at blighted properties? In this week’s episode, we’ll be depositing our time into the discussion of Land Banks, no pun intended, well maybe a little. A County Land Bank in the State of Ohio is a useful program, that establishes a private, non-profit corporation through the power of your local government, to fight vacant & blighted properties and return them to productive use in your communities. We’ll discuss how one is established, how it can be funded, and explain to you...

EP 2 – D.O.R.A (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas)

July 01, 2020 19:06 - 25 minutes - 46.9 MB

In this episode, we’ll explore D.O.R.A, Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas. Did you know that in the State of Ohio, a DORA can be established to create an environment where you can walk in a particular area (your downtown possibly?) with a drink in your hand? Listen as we discuss what a DORA is, how a city can get one, and what the pros and cons. Who's on it? Jared Perry, Sam Tuten & Bret Allphin Any good resources? State of Ohio Revised Code - Chapter 4301.82: Designated Outdoor Refr...

EP 1 – The Who, The What, & The Why?

June 29, 2020 19:43 - 16 minutes - 30.2 MB

This episode is a quick little intro on why we decided to create mytownhustle. You’ll get to know a little about all of our hosts along with some statistical background of the community we live and work in. Who’s on it? * Jared Perry* Sam Tuten* Bret Allphin Any good resources? * https://www.mariettaoh.net/* https://www.washingtongov.org/* https://www.mariettamainstreet.org/ Recorded * June 2020 Questions? * Email us at [email protected] Shout out! As always thank you to The ...

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