Ohio making $85 million available to improve Appalachian counties

The state of Ohio is making $85 million available for projects that improve access to education, healthcare and employment opportunities in the Buckeye State’s 32 Appalachian counties.

The federal funds are available through Ohio’s Appalachian Community Innovation Centers program, which provides competitive grants to build, expand or renovate educational, work and health facilities. The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFFC) administers the program.

“OFCC is already working with local communities on school construction projects,” Ohio Budget and Management Director and OFCC Chair Kimberly Murnieks said in a statement. “The partnership between education, healthcare, and jobs will provide ready access to the type of services that strengthen families and communities in the Appalachian region.”

Applicants with multiple partners must have a single organization as the lead applicant. Local governments or government-related entities such as townships, villages, cities, school districts, libraries, community improvement corporations, county governments or councils of governments are eligible to apply. Educational institutions and nonprofit organizations are also eligible to be lead applicants.

Lead applicants must operate in, and the project must occur within, the 32-county Appalachian region.

The deadline to apply is Thursday, March 21, 2024, and the inquiry period closes Monday, March 18, 2024.

Ohio’s Appalachian region was once the state’s mining center, but its population, unemployment rate and median income have declined over the last century. State and federal officials have made other funds available for projects designed to improve quality of life of life in the region.

Last year, the Ohio Department of Development made $470 million available for projects that address local infrastructure, workforce and healthcare projects. The funds were available through the Appalachian Community Grant Program, which was underwritten by $500 million from the American Rescue Plan Act.

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