Genesis Project

The Genesis Project, a public-private partnership dedicated to bringing about a “new beginning” for one of Dayton’s oldest neighborhoods, began in 2000.

The Fairgrounds Neighborhood is bordered by Stewart, Main, Wyoming and Brown Streets and is adjacent to Miami Valley Hospital, the Montgomery County Fairgrounds and the University of Dayton. The project grew out of the Rubicon Park Master Plan, a vision to ensure the future success of the area as a whole.

The primary partners of the Genesis Project are the Miami Valley Hospital, the University of Dayton, the City of Dayton and CityWide Development Corporation. The overall goal of the project was and still is to improve the quality of life for residents and business owners in and around the Fairgrounds Neighborhood. This has been accomplished through many different activities, including (but not limited to):

• Increasing homeownership in the neighborhood through the demolition of sub-standard houses, renovation of existing houses, and construction of new houses
• Making traffic flow and streetscape improvements
• Improving parking accessibility for business customers
• Providing financing for new and expanding businesses
• Providing two community-based police officers

The partnership between the public and private entities involved in the Genesis Project has been so successful that the project earned the prestigious Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award from the National Community Development Association.