The mission of the Northeast Ohio First Suburbs Consortium is to initiate and support policies and practices that protect, maintain, and redevelop mature communities and foster regional cooperation.

The Consortium believes that the well-being of the Greater Cleveland region requires public and private "smart growth" policies and practices that combat

• Economic erosion of mature communities
  
• Social costs associated with abandonment and disruption of traditional neighborhoods
• Wasteful duplication of infrastructure
• Environmental degradation
• Loss of farmland and open space

Sprawl affects all communities in the long-term. The Northeast Ohio First Suburbs Consortium believes that taxpayer dollars should not be used to encourage the abandonment of our cities and mature communities. Other states have adopted a variety of effective planning and fiscal initiatives to combat suburban sprawl, protect the environment, revitalize older communities, and conserve public resources. What will we do in Ohio?