September 28 – Columbus, Ohio – Lisa Patt-McDaniel, Director of the Ohio Department of Development, and Mark Shanahan, energy advisor to Governor Ted Strickland, today announced that Ohio's plan to utilize $25 million in federal stimulus allocated through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program has been accepted by the U.S. Department of Energy.
"Ohio can create sustainable jobs and experience long-term economic growth by helping drive down emissions across our state," Patt-McDaniel said. "Recovery Act resources reduce Ohio's carbon footprint by creating energy-saving options and increased efficiency."
Specific application guidelines will start to be released in the next 2-4 weeks by the Ohio Department of Development for the $25 million according to its approved plan: $15 million will be competitively sub-granted to the 78 counties and 114 cities not eligible to receive direct funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, and $8.2 million will be available to state facilities and institutions of higher education through a competitive solicitation. The remaining $1.8 million will be used for technical assistance, outreach, grant administration, and reporting. Project selection will be conducted in keeping with the Obama Administration's guidelines on effectiveness, accountability, and transparency.
This $25 million is part of a total allocation of $84 million in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funds available to Ohio through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The U.S. Department of Energy divided the total allocation into two parts. The remaining $59 million is a direct allocation from the U.S. Department of Energy to Ohio's 10 largest counties and 33 largest cities. Eligible local county and city governments interested in seeking this funding were required to file an energy strategy proposal with the federal government by mid-August.
"Ohioans can significantly improve energy efficiency with these Recovery Act resources," Shanahan said. "Projects that create sustainable jobs and reduce carbon emissions offer a dual benefit to Ohio."
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds appropriated to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program will enable Ohio to support investments in energy efficiency retrofits, installation of distributed energy technologies and other energy-related projects at local, state, and higher education facilities to lower energy bills, reduce emissions, and create jobs. The program will be administered through a collaboration between the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority and the Ohio Department of Development.
September 25 – Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission (RSC) today announced the award of $7.3 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus projects to benefit Ohioans with disabilities.
"These stimulus funds are critical," said RSC Administrator Michael Rench. "This $7.3 million will strengthen RSC's statewide network of services for Ohioans with disabilities. These projects will reduce waiting lists; provide valuable work experiences and more intensive services to help Ohioans get better jobs faster."
"These stimulus dollars give Ohioans with severe disabilities opportunities to re-enter the workforce or maintain their employment in this extremely competitive environment," said RSC Commission Chair Bruce Growick.
The $7.3 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) dollars invested in RSC were awarded through the federal Rehabilitation Services Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Education. Plans are currently being developed for an additional $10 million in stimulus funds the RSA has just awarded Ohio.
The 19 projects outlined below were selected from 60 different competitive proposals that were reviewed by a panel of state vocational rehabilitation experts and RSC's state agency partners.
Last year RSC helped 9,370 Ohioans with severe disabilities succeed at finding steady employment. Examples of vocational rehabilitation services include: individualized counseling, job assessments, job placement assistance, supported employment, rehabilitation and assistive technology, on-the-job training and support, and assistance with college or other technical training required in securing a job.
"We want to help more companies recruit and hire workers with disabilities," Administrator Rench said. "These diverse workers are proven to be more reliable, have excellent attendance and safety records and they stay on the job longer. It's a win-win situation for Ohioans and Ohio companies."
For those Ohioans with disabilities who are unable to work, RSC also provides disability determination for Social Security Disability Insurance.
Anyone can refer someone to RSC. For more information, visit www.rsc.ohio.gov
September 25 – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sebelius announced the creation of Communities Putting Prevention to Work. HHS has allocated $650 million of ARRA funds to this initiative, which will reduce risk factors, prevent/delay chronic disease, promote wellness in children and adults, and provide positive, sustainable health change in communities.
$373 million in competitive grants are available as part of The Community Program, a component of Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative. More information on applying for this grant can be found at www.grants.gov. All applications must be received by December 1, 2009
Additional information on this program can be viewed at: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/09/20090917a.html
September 25 – Secretary Ken Salazar announced $14.25 million in ARRA funds to help repair historic buildings for historically black colleges and universities. Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio will receive $1,750,000 in assistance. The announcement and information on awards can be found at: http://www.doi.gov/news/09_News_Releases/091809a.html
September 25 – The Obama administration announced $100 million in Recovery Act funding for 43 transit agencies as part of the Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) grant.
Recipients are transit agencies that are pursuing cutting-edge environmental technologies to help reduce global warming, lessen America's dependence on oil and create green jobs. Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority of Cleveland, Ohio will receive $2,257,000 for a Facility Energy Conservation Project. The full announcement and more information on the award can be found at: http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2009/fta2209.htm.
September 25 – U.S. Department of Labor announced that 4,700 workers, in 13 states, are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). Employees at Archway Cookies LLC (Ashland, Ohio) and Daido Metal Bellefontaine LLC (Bellefontaine, Ohio) are eligible to apply for TAA. Applicants may receive case management and re-employment services, training in new occupational skills and trade readjustment allowances that provide income support for workers enrolled in training. View more information on the program.
September 25 – U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announced that seven state agencies, including Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, will receive funds to simplify the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility and application systems to allow better access for low-income families to SNAP's benefits. View the full press release.
September 24 – Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) will use $6.7 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to provide employment and training opportunities to Ohio's urban youth through Urban Youth Works grants to 16 organizations.
"These funds will provide assistance to a vulnerable sector of our society and give these youth an opportunity to take a new, positive direction in their lives," said ODJFS Director Douglas Lumpkin. "I am grateful to the Obama administration and our members of Congress who advocated for the stimulus bill and these resources. The impact of these programs could be felt for years to come."
The programs funded will target urban youth who are disengaged from the educational system, youthful offenders, youth in or aging out of the foster care system, youth with disabilities, migrant youth, homeless and/or runaway youth and children of incarcerated parents. This group has been targeted because of it's history of high unemployment. Youth ages 16-24 living at or below 200 percent of the poverty level are eligible to participate.
Each of the programs funded will remove barriers to youth employment by offering services such as career counseling, skill assessment, job readiness preparation, education, training and job search assistance. More than 1,500 youth are expected to benefit from these services.
Grant award, ranging from $168,000 to $500,000 are being made to the following organizations: Alvis House (Columbus); Berea Children's Home (Berea); Cleveland Christian Home (Cleveland); the Easter Seals Resource Center (Cincinnati); Flying High, Inc. (Youngstown); Harbor, Inc. (Toledo); Linking Employment Abilities and Potential (Cleveland); Ohio Restaurant Association Education Foundation (Columbus); Project Rebuild Community Vocational High School (Cincinnati); The Employment Source (Canton); Workforce Investment Board of Lucas County (Toledo); Urban League of Greater Cincinnati (Cincinnati); the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (Columbus); Towards Employment, Inc. (Cleveland); Unified Health Solutions (Dayton); and Zeigler Habilitation Homes, Inc. (Toledo).
Funding will be distributed to these organizations in October to launch services to youth through December 31, 2010.
September 23 – Columbus, Ohio – Efforts to stimulate and revitalize neighborhoods across Ohio are being aided through the distribution of funds announced by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).
More than $19 million from the Tax Credit Assistance Program (TCAP) and the Tax Credit Exchange (TCE), created in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), will be given to eight developments around the state, which include:
OHFA received $83 million through the TCAP to provide low-interest loans or grants for developments awarded Housing Tax Credits in 2007, 2008 or 2009. These funds satisfy the fiscal gaps created by lower returns on the sale of Housing Tax Credits. Developers must have secured an investor for their tax credits prior to obtaining TCAP assistance.
Through the TCE program, OHFA is able to convert a portion of the Agency's annual share of federal Housing Tax Credits into grant dollars to provide greater financial support to developers who have found securing investors for the tax credits increasingly difficult. This additional support will enable developers to immediately begin construction and provide affordable housing and economic stimulus throughout the state.
The Agency was approved to award this funding in late May and began accepting applications from developers on June 15. Additional awards, made possible through new programs created in the ARRA, will be announced periodically during the next several months and posted to www.ohiohome.org.
September 23 – U.S Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $172.5 million in ARRA funds for water and environmental projects. Ohio received a $637,000 loan and a $556,000 grant for the Richmond Dale Sewer District.
September 23 – Secretary Donovan announced $50 million in competitive Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) grants. These funds are aimed at foreclosed properties under the NSP program. View the list of NSP awards and the full press release.
September 23 – U.S Department of Agriculture Secretary Vilsack highlighted plans for a $10 million infrastructure project in Jefferson County. The infrastructure project will help improve local water quality and eliminate runoff from failing septic tanks. 350 users in Wayne and Cross Creek townships will benefit from this project.
September 23 – U.S. Department of Transportation announced $20 million to create the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Bonding Assistance Program. This program aids small and disadvantaged businesses by reimbursing bonding premiums and fees incurred when competing for, or performing on, transportation infrastructure projects funded by ARRA. View the full press release and more information on DBE.
September 23 – The U.S Department of Agriculture posted amounts for state administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. PDF
September 23 – Secretary Duncan announced $11.37 Billion in Title I, IDEA, and Vocational Rehabilitation Funds available to states and schools ahead of schedule. The funds will provide further guidance to states and schools in the need for collaboration across programs and flexibility.
September 22 – Correction: The deadline for submission of proposals to the Ohio Department of Development in response to the State Energy Plan Targeting Industry Efficiency Request for Proposals is 3 p.m. on Friday, October 16, 2009. Interested applicants must also submit an expression of interest no later than 5 p.m. on October 12, 2009, at http://recovery.ohio.gov/opportunities/state/.
September 16 – Columbus, Ohio – New options for safe, quality affordable housing in Dayton will be available next year after a funding announcement was made by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).
More than $2.6 million from the Tax Credit Exchange (TCE) program, created in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), has been allocated to East End Twin Towers Crossing.
The proposed single-family lease purchase homes will be developed in various locations throughout Dayton using $2,688,178 awarded by OHFA. Each home will feature a full basement, patio and detached garage.
Through the TCE program, OHFA can convert a portion of the Agency's annual share of federal Housing Tax Credits into grant dollars to provide greater financial support to developers who have found securing investors for the tax credits increasingly difficult. These additional funds will enable developers to immediately begin construction and provide affordable housing and economic stimulus throughout the state.
The Agency was approved to award this monetary funding in late May and began accepting applications from developers on June 15. Additional funding awards, made possible through new programs created in the ARRA, will be announced periodically during the next several months and posted to www.ohiohome.org.
September 16 – U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announced almost $89 million in ARRA funds for 78 forest health protection projects. Ohio and Michigan were awarded a joint project at $2,244,000.
September 16 – U.S. Department of Energy announced a $454 million competitive grant program, funded through ARRA, to initiate a nationwide energy upgrade. This program is part of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. View the request for information issued by the U.S. DOE.
September 16 – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced $33 million to expand training of health professionals. These funds are part of the $500 million to address workforce shortages through ARRA. Ohio received funds for 11 colleges or universities. View the press release and award list.
September 16 – The U.S Department of Justice posted an updated list of ARRA programs administered by the Office of Justice Programs. View the updated lists.
September 14 – Columbus, Ohio – Lisa Patt-McDaniel, Interim Director of the Ohio Department of Development, and Mark Shanahan, energy advisor to Governor Ted Strickland, today announced that the Ohio Department of Development's Ohio Energy Office is accepting applications for $10 million in funding available through the Targeting Industry Efficiency grant program. This is the second request for proposals involving the State Energy Program, funded through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA).
"These Recovery Act resources can be used to strengthen Ohio industries by realizing energy savings and trimming emissions," Patt-McDaniel said. "Ohio can create sustainable jobs and experience long-term economic growth by helping drive down energy costs for our manufacturers and other industry producers."
The grant program is part of Ohio's $96 million proposal for the State Energy Program that was accepted on June 26, 2009 by the U.S. Department of Energy, prompting the release of ARRA funds to the State of Ohio to direct funding to eligible energy projects.
"These grants will help manufacturers across Ohio make significant improvements in energy efficiency," Shanahan said. "These types of projects create long-term jobs and improve our environment by reducing carbon emissions."
Targeting Industry Efficiency, a $10 million program, seeks eligible applicants for energy efficiency improvements in Ohio's targeted industries, such as advanced energy, aerospace and aviation, agriculture and food processing, bioscience and bio-products, instruments, controls and electronics, motor vehicles and parts manufacturing, and polymers and advanced materials. Technologies may include combined heat and power, demand reduction, assessments for carbon mitigation opportunities, improvements in process heat applications, motors and other industrial systems.
Awards will range between $250,000 and $1 million and will be selected through a competitive process. All eligible projects must be located within the State of Ohio, include a match investment of a minimum of 50 percent of total costs, demonstrate completion within 12 months, and provide direct economic impacts in Ohio.
Interested applicants must submit a one-page project summary no later than 5:00 p.m. on October 12, 2009, at Recovery.Ohio.gov/opportunities/state/. If you have already submitted a summary, you will not be required to submit again. To submit forms on the Web site, applicants should click "submit your proposal", then choose the program category "Energy and Environment" and the subprogram "State Energy Program." Only projects that have submitted initial summaries to www.recovery.ohio.gov will be considered for formal proposals in response to this request.
In addition, applicants must submit complete proposals, which are due to the Ohio Energy Office by 3 p.m. on Friday, October 16, 2009.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act State Energy Program will accelerate the goals of renewable energy development in Ohio, including job preservation or creation, increased energy efficiency, and energy assistance to Ohioans impacted by current economic conditions.
For more information about the Targeting Industry Efficiency grant program and requirements, please visit: www.development.ohio.gov/recovery/energy/FundingOpportunities.htm.
September 10 – Columbus, Ohio – Ohio EPA, working with U.S. EPA stimulus funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA) for drinking water projects or Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) for water pollution control projects, has signed project agreements totaling over $34.6 million for improvements in Ohio.
Projects receiving ARRA subsidies combined with low-interest loans include the following WRSLA projects:
Projects receiving ARRA subsidies combined with low-interest loans include the following WPCLF projects:
All of Ohio EPA's stimulus funding is being awarded in the form of direct subsidy through loan principal forgiveness to reduce the capital costs of the projects. Eight projects are partially funded under Ohio's Water Pollution Control Loan Fund, and eight projects are partially funded under the state's Drinking Water Supply Revolving Loan Account.
ARRA funding will support 267 water pollution control projects in 160 communities and 65 drinking water projects in 52 communities in Ohio. For additional information on the federal program, please visit www.epa.gov/recovery/, or see the Web sites below for Ohio specific details.
September 9 – Columbus, Ohio – Over 80 affordable housing units are one step closer to becoming available to residents with an announcement today by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA). More than $3 million from the Tax Credit Exchange (TCE) program, created in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), has been allocated to Dublin House and Eaton Senior Village.
Dublin House will receive $834,361 for the rehabilitation of 40 units of affordable housing for seniors in Middletown, Ohio. The development features an on-site library, patio/picnic area and a community room for social gatherings.
Eaton Senior Village will receive $2,432,705 to develop 44 one-story cottage-style units. Located near essential services, each unit will feature a security system and laundry room and residents will have access to a community building with space for meetings and activities.
Through the TCE program, OHFA can convert a portion of the Agency's annual share of federal Housing Tax Credits into grant dollars to provide greater financial support to developers who have found securing investors for the tax credits increasingly difficult. These additional funds will enable developers to immediately begin construction and provide affordable housing and economic stimulus throughout the state.
The Agency was approved to award this monetary funding in late May and began accepting applications from developers on June 15. Additional funding awards, made possible through new programs created in the ARRA, will be announced periodically during the next several months and posted to www.ohiohome.org.
September 8 – Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI) has been awarded a $2,000,287 federal grant under the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Assistance to Rural Law Enforcement to Combat Crime and Drugs Program.
The funds, which were included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will be used to improve law enforcement access to criminal justice data including palm prints, mug shots, and misdemeanor arrest information. This improved access will come in the form of additions to BCI's Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS).
"These funds ensure that Ohio's small towns have access to important resources necessary to keep communities safe," Sen. Brown said. "Improving our law enforcement and crime prevention efforts is essential to maintaining the well-being of Ohioans."
Attorney General Cordray noted, "Law enforcement in rural Ohio is suffering financially. These federal dollars will allow BCI to help them by building stronger crime-fighting tools. For example, investigators have hundreds of thousands of palm prints in their hands — both from crime scenes and suspect images. But to be able to take all of those from all around the state and put them into a searchable database provides a significant new resource to solve more crimes."
BCI's AFIS system currently contains criminal history and fingerprint information. The additions of the complete palm print database, arrestee mug shots and local misdemeanor arrest data will provide help most specifically to all the law enforcement agencies in Ohio's 40 least-populous counties, including Adams, Auglaize, Brown, Carroll, Champaign, Clinton, Coshocton, Crawford, Defiance, Fayette, Fulton, Gallia, Guernsey, Hardin, Harrison, Henry, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Logan, Madison, Meigs, Mercer, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Noble, Ottawa, Paulding, Perry, Pike, Preble, Putnam, Shelby, Union, Van Wert, Vinton, Williams, and Wyandot.
Unlike agencies in Ohio's major metropolitan areas which utilize regional AFIS systems, agencies in these more rural counties rely upon BCI's AFIS system to gather the information they need to investigate crimes.
All three components of the AFIS enhancement project will provide notable improvements for investigators. Palm prints comprise an estimated 30-percent of the latent print evidence recovered from crime scenes. The addition of mug shots to AFIS will mean that arrestee photographs will be available for the first time for officers performing rapid identification searches for information. Inclusion of misdemeanor arrest information in AFIS will increase the number of fingerprint images available to members of law enforcement, from offenses committed in other jurisdictions.
September 4 – Columbus, Ohio – One hundred affordable housing units are one step closer to becoming a reality with an announcement today by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA). More than $4.6 million from the Tax Credit Exchange (TCE) program, created in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), has been allocated to Defiance Crossing, Logan Senior Apartments and Mount Vernon Senior Housing.
Defiance Crossing will receive $1,283,376 for the development of 32 single-family lease-purchase homes in Defiance, Ohio. Each home is located near essential residential services such as a grocery store, public transportation and schools and will feature at least three bedrooms.
Logan Senior Apartments will receive $2,505,208 to construct 40 one-story units in Logan, Ohio. The development will provide one-story, garden-style units to residents.
Mount Vernon Senior Housing will receive $863,231 to develop 28 units for senior residents age 55 and older. This is a new construction project and will consist of eight one- and 20 two- bedroom units. The design is one-story with individual front doors to the exterior, but also with access to an interior hallway connecting residents to community spaces within the building.
Through the TCE program, OHFA can convert a portion of the Agency's annual share of federal Housing Tax Credits into grant dollars to provide greater financial support to developers who have found securing investors for the tax credits increasingly difficult. These additional funds will enable developers to immediately begin construction and provide affordable housing and economic stimulus throughout the state.
The Agency was approved to award this monetary funding in late May and began accepting applications from developers on June 15. Additional funding awards, made possible through new programs created in the ARRA, will be announced periodically during the next several months and posted to www.ohiohome.org.
September 1 – Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) today announced a new $4 million Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Constructing Futures grant initiative funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Constructing Futures is designed to provide pre-apprenticeship training to unemployed Ohioans in construction occupations.
"This program will help put Ohioans to work in the construction industry, which is seeing the immediate impacts of the federal stimulus legislation," ODJFS Director Douglas Lumpkin said. "More Ohioans, especially women and minorities who are having difficulties finding employment, will be able to secure good jobs because of this program."
Program activities will be targeted to dislocated workers and low-income, unemployed adults. Outreach will focus particularly on minority and female Ohioans, who are underrepresented in the construction sector.
The funding source is a $4 million allotment under ARRA. The agency originally issued an RFP for this project July 1. To improve the awards process, the agency withdrew the RFP and is issuing a new one designed to achieve the same goals while allowing involvement by a greater number of qualified applicants.
The deadline for proposals is Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 3 p.m. In addition to the proposal, applicants must also register by that date at the ARRA Recovery Web site at www.recovery.ohio.gov/opportunities/state/. For organizations that responded to the July RFP, they must submit new proposals for this current RFP. However, they do not need to register at the ARRA Recovery Web site if they registered in July. The current RFP and other information about the grant initiative are available online at jfs.ohio.gov/rfp/. Interested parties are encouraged to regularly view that Web site for any possible alerts or amendments regarding the project.
To be considered for funding, a proposal must be submitted by a partnership that includes one or more organization in each of five groups: Registered Apprenticeship sponsors, local Workforce Investment Act (WIA) entities (local WIA Boards or administrative agencies), programs or institutions of the University System of Ohio (USO), Adult Basic Literacy and Education (ABLE) sponsors within the USO, and community-based organizations that have expertise in serving the target populations.
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