A foundation for the long work of regional renewal
LEMA brings mutual aid and community development together under one roof — combining immediate, neighbor-to-neighbor support with the steady, structural work of strengthening Northern Ohio.
Why we exist
LEMA is a regional development foundation working to strengthen communities across Northern Ohio through workforce activation, land and water stewardship, and durable public-benefit infrastructure.
Many communities in our region face the same intertwined challenges: residents seeking meaningful work, land and waterways in need of care, and infrastructure that has been deferred for too long. LEMA exists to address these together — treating workforce, stewardship, and infrastructure as one connected effort rather than separate programs.
We are organized as a recognized nonprofit foundation and operate with the governance, transparency, and discipline that public agencies and funders rightly expect of a credible regional partner.
Where we work
Sandusky • Erie County • Northern Ohio • Great Lakes Region
Our values in practice
Service first (Khidmah)
We measure ourselves by the practical good we deliver to neighbors and the region — not by activity for its own sake.
Excellence in execution (Ihsan)
We aim to do work carefully and well, with accountability and attention to detail at every step.
Stewardship
Land, water, equipment, and trust are responsibilities. We manage them for the long term, not for short-term gain.
Durable benefit
We prioritize projects that build lasting capacity — skills, infrastructure, and relationships that outlast any single effort.
Phase 1 is the beginning, not the boundary
Our current focus is the Phase 1 Pilot in Erie County. Future phases will extend proven work to additional communities and introduce longer-horizon initiatives — including productive land and agrivoltaic projects — as capacity and partnerships grow.
Build something durable with us
Agencies, nonprofits, funders, and community members are all part of this work. Reach out to explore how we can partner.