Rooted in Collaboration: Highlights from MORPC’s 2025 Summit on Sustainability

Hundreds of community leaders, advocates and innovators gathered last week for the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission’s (MORPC) 2025 Summit on Sustainability – known as the region’s premier event for exploring how local action drives environmental progress.

This year’s theme, Local Roots. Local Impacts., reminded us that the most meaningful sustainability work begins close to home. Central Ohio continues to prove that collaboration is the cornerstone of a sustainable future (from clean water to public transit, renewable energy to waste reduction).

Shared Vision, Local Action

MurphyEpson was proud to join the Summit once again – this year as a Breakout Session Sponsor – and to support our partners who are leading the way in sustainable change. The day’s sessions highlighted both the diversity and the interconnectedness of regional efforts. A few of our partners and their work include:

• City of Columbus – With MurphyEpson-supported efforts like Blueprint Columbus and Lead-Safe Columbus, the City of Columbus continues to embed environmental stewardship into infrastructure and public health initiatives.
  
  
• COTA – With expanded zero-emission buses and transformative efforts like LinkUS, COTA is reducing emissions while improving equitable access to opportunity.
  
  
• SWACO (Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio) – Through education, innovation and programs like Choose to Reuse, SWACO is helping communities reduce landfill waste and build a more circular economy.
  
  
• SOPEC (Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council) – As Ohio’s statewide governmental energy aggregator, SOPEC is helping communities choose clean, affordable power and reinvest in local sustainability projects.
  
  
• City of Dublin – The City of Dublin is demonstrating leadership in green infrastructure, mobility innovation and smart-city collaboration across Central Ohio.

Leading the Conversation

The Summit’s plenary sessions and breakout discussions explored every facet of sustainability – from energy efficiency and stormwater management to green mobility and resilient housing.

MurphyEpson’s own Marie Keister helped facilitate one of the morning breakout sessions, Trails – From Humble Beginnings in 1994 to the LinkUS Transformation, where panelists from the City of Columbus, COTA and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy discussed how Central Ohio’s growing trail network is sparking new connections between communities and economic hubs.

This theme of connection ran through the entire day: connecting sectors, data, people and places. It’s a reminder that sustainability isn’t one initiative – it’s the sum of our partnerships.

Trends Shaping Central Ohio’s Sustainable Future

Across dozens of sessions, three clear trends emerged that mirror much of the work happening in our region:

1. Circular Thinking – Organizations are shifting from single-use systems to circular models that prioritize reuse, repair and resource efficiency.
   
   
2. Climate Resilience through Collaboration – Infrastructure and planning agencies are embedding climate-readiness into every project – from flood mitigation to transit design.
   
   
3. Equity at the Core – Sustainability leaders are focusing on environmental justice and ensuring that all communities benefit from cleaner air, safer streets and affordable energy.

Building on Local Momentum

At MurphyEpson, we believe sustainability is more than policy or infrastructure – it’s communication. The MORPC Summit showcased the power of storytelling, collaboration and shared purpose to move Central Ohio forward.

We’re proud to help shape that story alongside our partners – designing campaigns, facilitating conversations and supporting initiatives that make our communities healthier, greener and better connected.

Because when local roots grow strong, local impacts can last generations.

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