TMACOG adopts new name: Lake Erie West Regional Council

Members of the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG) voted to adopt a new name, Lake Erie West Regional Council, reflecting its mission to connect communities and advance regional priorities in transportation, environment, and economic development.

TMACOG’s General Assembly approved the name change Friday, January 30 following a unanimous recommendation from the organization’s Governing Board. The transition is rooted in TMACOG’s 2024 strategic plan, which identified the change as a key priority.

Throughout 2025, staff and member leadership conducted focus groups, surveys, and meetings with member governments and partner organizations to gather input. Feedback showed overwhelming support for both a new name in general and the specific name Lake Erie West Regional Council, which members said better reflects the region’s geography, shared assets, and collaborative work.

“The name Lake Erie West Regional Council represents our geography and the greatest resource we share – Lake Erie is the thread that connects our communities, our economies, and our future. The name Lake Erie West Regional Council signals that when we gather together, we do so as partners in one connected region,” said Northwood Mayor Ed Schimmel, outgoing chair.

Across the country, regional councils provide a nonpartisan framework for local governments to work together on shared infrastructure, funding investment, and environmental issues.

TMACOG was established in 1968, building on earlier cooperative planning efforts that began in the 1960s. Today, the organization represents more than 80 member communities and organizations that include more than 800,000 residents across Lucas, Wood, Fulton, Ottawa, and Sandusky counties in Ohio and Monroe County, Michigan. Member organizations include counties, cities, villages, townships, school districts, park districts, and other public entities.

Now operating as Lake Erie West Regional Council, the organization will continue its roles facilitating cooperation on regional transportation, water, and economic development planning initiatives.

“This move follows years of conversation, strategic planning, and thorough input from our members. I think the name Lake Erie West Regional Council is a natural next step that will help us keep building momentum and allow us to accomplish even more together,” said Jon Eckel, Perrysburg Township administrator.

The name change is accompanied by a new logo and visual brand for Lake Erie West Regional Council that invokes water, land, and connection. Some aspects of the brand transition will happen immediately, while others will take time.

“Our mission remains the same, and this new identity represents our intent to expand partnerships, empower connection, and amplify impact across the region,” said Executive Director Sandy Spang.

“Regional councils and MPOs exist so that communities can coordinate to tackle big issues, which often extend across borders and boundaries, in ways that no single jurisdiction can accomplish alone,” Spang said. “We appreciate the involvement of members who considered and approved the name change, which clearly connects our work to our greatest shared asset and the broad, diverse region we serve.”

The General Assembly event on January 30 brought together 250 regional government and community leaders at the Hilton Garden Inn in Perrysburg. Lake Erie West Regional Council members elected new leadership and Governing Board representatives for 2026:

• Chair: George Sarantou, Toledo City Council
• Vice Chair: Lisa Sobecki, Lucas County Commissioner
• Second Vice Chair: Scott Miller, Sandusky County Commissioner
  

“I look forward to working with members, partners, and staff to continue advancing regional collaboration in 2026,” said George Sarantou, the new chair of Lake Erie West Regional Council. “Together we will build on the strong foundation of partnership that defines this organization and move our region forward with purpose.”

The keynote conversation highlighted Lake Erie’s vital role in driving the regional economy, featuring Jon Altenberg, president and CEO of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, and Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne, who shared how Northeast Ohio has leveraged its Lake Erie coastline to advance the region.

To learn more about the work of Lake Erie West Regional Council, formerly TMACOG, go to www.tmacog.org. or contact Executive Director, Sandy Spang at 419.820.4520 or spang@tmacog.org