SUMMIT VENUE, HOTEL & PARKING
SUMMIT VENUEHOTEL ROOM BLOCKWe have reserved a block of rooms at the Lafayette Hotel for Summit attendees that plan to drive in early! This is a great opportunity to explore the incredible town of Marietta and to join colleagues at a social event the evening before the Summit, Wednesday, October 22.
To lock in the discount, be sure to call the hotel directly at (740) 373-5522 and mention the OLBA Fall Summit when making your reservation! |
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PARKINGPublic parking is amply available downtown!
Most spaces are free for at least 2 hours. Click a parking symbol to see restrictions and rates. Public boat docks are represented by anchors. Check back for updates. The OLBA is working to secure dedicated parking for the event. Map credit: Main Street Marietta |
SUMMIT SCHEDULE
*Please note that session details are subject to change; we encourage you to check back periodically for the most up-to-date information.
WEDNESDAY | OCTOBER 22
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6:00pm - 9:00pm
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Networking Social - 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Are you coming in early? Kick off the Fall Summit with an evening of connection and conversation! Join us Wednesday night at the Galley (203 2nd St, Marietta, OH 45750) for an informal networking social with fellow attendees, speakers, and partners. This relaxed gathering is a great way to catch up with colleagues and meet new faces before the full day of sessions begins. Enjoy light hors d’oeuvres and a cash (card) bar in a casual setting overlooking the river. No RSVP required. |
THURSDAY | OCTOBER 23
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8:00am - 4:15pm
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REGISTRATION OPEN
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8:30am
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BREAKFAST OPENS - Fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, sliced ham, waffles, french toast english muffins, assorted bagels, coffee, tea and juice
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9:00am - 9:45am
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Breakfast Plenary - Land Banking 101: Understanding Your Powers and Purpose
New to land banking or need a refresher? The opening session offers a clear overview of what land banks are and what they are legally empowered to do in Ohio. Learn about the core powers granted under state law, how to activate them, and the foundational role land banks play in addressing vacancy, abandonment, and neighborhood stabilization. Presenter: Jeffry Harris, Partner, Bricker Graydon |
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9:50am - 11:00am
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Mobile Tour 1 - Marietta on the Move
Join us for a guided four‑block walking tour through historic downtown Marietta. Highlights include a stop at the Glass Press Buildings, currently being revitalized into new housing and restaurant space, and a walk by the Levee Project—an ambitious redevelopment effort supported by a $9.4 million Appalachian Community Grant, as part of the Ohio’s Wonderful Waterways initiative. This tour offers a firsthand look at exciting projects shaping Marietta’s future while celebrating its rich past. |
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10:00am - 11:00am |
Session 1.1 - Finding the Right Partners (and Keeping Them) - DOWNLOAD SLIDES HERE
No land bank succeeds alone. This session explores how to identify, engage, and maintain strong partnerships with public officials, nonprofits, funders, developers, and community groups. Learn how to align expectations, build mutual value, and develop relationships that move projects forward. Features examples of high-impact collaborations from around the state.
Session 1.2 - Creative Funding Strategies to Power Your Land Bank - DOWNLOAD SLIDES HERE
Securing sustainable funding is one of the biggest challenges land banks face. This session covers how to identify and layer funding opportunities, write compelling grant proposals, and creatively finance both operations and projects. Learn from peers who have built a capital stack using local, state, and federal sources, even without dedicated development staff.
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11:15am - 12:15pm |
Session 2.1 - Operating With Limited or No Staff and Making It Work - DOWNLOAD SLIDES HERE
Many land banks are operated entirely by board members or rely on part-time or borrowed staff. This session shares real-world strategies for staying compliant, organized, and effective with minimal capacity. Includes templates, outsourcing tips, automation tools, and examples of how small operations are still making big things happen.
Session 2.2 - Turning Vacant Lots into Housing Opportunities - DOWNLOAD SLIDES HERE
Vacant land doesn’t have to stay vacant. This session highlights real-world examples of how land banks are turning lots into homes through the Welcome Home Ohio program. Panelists will share practical lessons from projects in Sandusky, Youngstown, and beyond. Covering everything from structuring purchase–resale deals, managing appraisal gaps, and working with developers, to engaging communities and supporting first-time homebuyers. Attendees will leave with replicable strategies and insights to bring housing development solutions back to their own communities.
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12:15pm - 1:45pm
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Lunch - Enjoy a meal on us!
As part of your registration, you selected a lunch option in advance. On the day of the Summit, each attendee will receive $20 in Marietta Bucks, which can be redeemed at your chosen local restaurant. Please remember to bring your Marietta Bucks with you when you head out for lunch. Lunch options: Jeremiah's Coffee House - 165 Front St, Marietta, OH 45750 Boathouse Barbecue - 218 Virginia St, Marietta, OH 45750 Tampico Mexican Restaurant - 221 2nd St, Marietta, OH 45750 The Town House - 230 Front St, Marietta, OH 45750 The Original Pizza Place - 231 2nd St, Marietta, OH 45750 The Galley - 203 2nd St, Marietta, OH 45750 |
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1:50pm - 3:00pm
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Mobile Tour 2 - Historic Trolley Tour
Step aboard Marietta’s historic trolley and enjoy a tour through Ohio’s oldest city. This mobile tour, hosted by the Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, offers guests a comfortable ride through centuries of local history, architecture, and stories that shaped the region. As you travel through charming neighborhoods and along the scenic riverfront, you’ll hear fascinating tales of Marietta’s past, from its founding as the first permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory to its role in industry, transportation, and American expansion. |
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2:00pm -3:00pm |
Session 3.1 - Make Your Case: Advocacy Through Stories, Strategy, and Data
Advocacy isn’t just about policy, it’s about people, progress, and proof. Learn how to build an advocacy toolkit using your land bank’s success stories, basic impact data, and a clear message. This session will help you craft persuasive communications for local leaders, funders, and the public, even if you don’t have a marketing team.
Presenters: Taylor Abbott, Jessica King, Geoff Schenkel Session 3.2 - Tax Foreclosure 101 - DOWNLOAD SLIDES HERE
This session will focus on uncovering legal distinctions between expedited Board of Revision foreclosures and a full judicial foreclosure process. Learn the key points for each process, eligibility as well as the procedure and the benefits of each. DOWNLOAD SLIDES HERE |
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3:05pm - 4:15pm
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Mobile Tour 3 - Historic Trolley Tour (Round 2)
Did you miss Mobile Tour 2? Step aboard Marietta’s historic trolley and enjoy a tour through Ohio’s oldest city. This mobile tour, hosted by the Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, offers guests a comfortable ride through centuries of local history, architecture, and stories that shaped the region. As you travel through charming neighborhoods and along the scenic riverfront, you’ll hear fascinating tales of Marietta’s past, from its founding as the first permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory to its role in industry, transportation, and American expansion. |
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3:15pm - 4:15pm |
Session 4.1 - Navigating Landmines
Some properties eat time and budget: historic structures with strings attached, floodplain parcels with strict rules, or sites tangled in environmental, legal, or access issues. This session demystifies the “landmines” that stall projects and offers tools and real-world examples to move even the stickiest parcels forward
Presenters: Connor LaVelle, David Mann, Bobby Ritchey, Sam Tuten Session 4.2 - Small But Mighty: What Rural Land Banks Can Teach the Rest of Us - DOWNLOAD SLIDES HERE
Rural land banks are proving that you don’t need a big budget or staff to make a real impact. In this peer-to-peer panel, hear directly from small land banks that have launched creative programs, overcome barriers, and delivered visible results. Come for inspiration and leave with practical tools you can take home.
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SOLD OUT
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
https://www.ohiolandbanks.org/2025summit.html#sponsor
We are proud to host the 2025 Ohio Land Bank Association Fall Summit in beautiful Marietta, Ohio, at the Historic Lafayette Hotel on October 23, 2025. This event brings together land bank leaders, public officials, and community development practitioners from across the state for a focused day of content and networking focusing on community revitalization and land banking!
Sponsorship of the Fall Summit is an opportunity to align your organization or company with the vital work of Ohio’s land banks while connecting directly with decision-makers who are shaping the future of our communities. Your support helps us deliver high-quality content, engaging discussions, and actionable tools that empower local leaders to revitalize neighborhoods, repurpose vacant properties, and drive equitable development.
Sponsorship of the Fall Summit is an opportunity to align your organization or company with the vital work of Ohio’s land banks while connecting directly with decision-makers who are shaping the future of our communities. Your support helps us deliver high-quality content, engaging discussions, and actionable tools that empower local leaders to revitalize neighborhoods, repurpose vacant properties, and drive equitable development.
THANK YOU 2025 FALL SUMMIT SPONSORS!
Presenting Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Breakfast Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors
