The General Assembly created the Urban Initiative in May 2000.  This program accelerated the access to state funding for the six largest urban districts (Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Toledo) due to their sheer size and the complexity of their problems.

All six districts have acquired their local funding and are in active design and construction. As of September 2006, there have been a total of 25 new or renovated buildings occupied, with another 79 in active design and 60 under construction.

To allow for effective management of this considerable undertaking, the construction and renovation projects in urban districts are occurring in phases or “segments.” Each segment is comprised of new construction, additions and renovation projects as reflected in the Master Facilities Plan. By approaching the plan in segments, OSFC and the district can focus on the particular issues that have arisen and make adjustments as necessary. They can also evaluate the performance of architects and construction managers before extending contracts to future segments.