Forward Toledo Exploratory Assessment

Completed during the COVID pandemic, Mass Economics and project partners created a comprehensive strategic framework that evaluated existing conditions and outlined future opportunities that served as the foundation for the Forward Toledo Comprehensive Land-Use Plan, adopted in 2024. Working with the client group, the effort started with the co-development of shared goals, followed by the deep-dive into the existing conditions analytics. Both current and historic demographic, socioeconomic, housing, workforce, entrepreneurial, economic, infrastructure, and land use data were compiled, analyzed, and mapped for the City of Toledo, it’s neighborhoods, and the broader region – which were contextualized with comparisons to the state, U.S. and identified peer cities. Then, informed by the existing conditions analytics, along with interviews and case studies, the project team developed five strategic opportunities within Toledo and its broader region: Toledo Innovation City, Water Belt City, Return to Glass City, Driving Mobility, and Urban Village. These strategic opportunities tie together land use, workforce, and economic assets and each opportunity details the strategies, action items, and desired outcomes, with supporting case studies from across the country. Mass Economics contributed robust workforce development and economic growth strategies, offering viable paths for the city to pivot towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

The Forward Toledo Exploratory Assessment is available here: https://tinyurl.com/FwdToledo and the Forward Toledo Comprehensive Land-Use Plan that built on the framework is available here: https://toledo.oh.gov/residents/forward.