COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Projects in Trumbull and Columbiana counties will share in more than $6.3 million in grants and loans to Ohio communities. The funds are designed to help consolidate services, improve efficiencies and, ultimately, cut costs.
The state Local Government Innovation Council approved a loan of $500,000 to the Trumbull County engineer’s office for a salt storage and joint purchasing initiative and $100,000 to the Columbiana County recorder's office for digitizing, redacting and local/remote access of land records.
This new program provides financial assistance which encourages collaboration, shared services and efficiency at the local level to reduce the cost of community services and provide a foundation for fiscal sustainability. The loans and grants are contingent upon State Controlling Board approval, said Christiane Schmenk, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “Teamwork leads to great successes," she said. “The large response to this new program shows local governments are willing to do what is necessary to provide for their communities and their citizens.”
The Ohio Department of Development received 105 grant applications and 12 loan applications, she noted.
The requests fall into nine distinct categories: technology, public safety, facilities, economic development, fleet management, public works, administration, health and human services, and educational instructional support.
The Local Government Innovation Fund is a competitive statewide program that provides loans and grants. The program will award up to $100,000 in grant funds per feasibility study, up to $100,000 in loan assistance per entity for demonstration projects, and up to $500,000 in loan assistance for collaborative demonstration projects.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.