Week in Review: Feb. 25, 2024

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/URBAN REVITALIZATION

The Ohio Department of Development (DOD) announced Friday it is now accepting site proposals as part of the All Ohio Future Fund, which seeks to help attract economic development projects by increasing the number of project-ready sites. The DeWine administration and DOD said $750 million is available in the fund, which communities can use toward associated infrastructure costs. Eligible costs include public roadwork, water and wastewater infrastructure, design and engineering, demolition, wetland mitigation, utility gap funding and other one-time site enhancements. Funding will primarily come in the form of zero percent interest, partially forgivable loans. Awardees will be expected to find site occupants within five years. Applicants can include counties, cities, villages, townships, port authorities, community improvement corporations, transportation improvement districts, land banks, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit organizations willing to develop project-ready sites. Applicants can submit their proposals via email to AOFF@development.ohio.gov and they will be received and awarded on a rolling basis until funds are depleted.

DOD is currently focused on implementing its programs created and supported in the operating budget, Director Lydia Mihalik told Hannah News recently, saying they will "help better position Ohio for the future." Those programs and others will invest over $1 billion in projects throughout the state, helping "transform" Ohio further and attracting more businesses, Mihalik continued. Businesses currently in the state will be able to expand as well. Three of the six programs discussed are currently taking applications: the Brownfield Remediation Program, Innovation Hubs and Welcome Home Ohio.

DOD Director Mihalik recently downplayed the delay in Intel's Central Ohio project, telling Hannah News that "it's not unusual for us to see slight delays" in a project "of that magnitude." "We fully anticipate that Intel will continue to meet their commitments to us, which were that they would have everything up and running and their jobs created by 2028. We're excited about what the potential is for that particular project and we're already seeing the fruits of that investment," she continued.

DOD announced Wednesday its Community Development Financial Institution Loan Participation Program (CDFI LPP) has recently provided 81 Ohio businesses with a total of $3.3 million in funding, intended to help build "economic strength." The program is part of the federal State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) program, supporting socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, very small businesses, and businesses located in CDFI tracts. The loans can be as high as $1 million and are available for buildings, machinery and equipment. They can also be used to support working capital needs, such as inventory or payroll.

ELECTIONS 2024

Early voting for the Tuesday, March 19 primary election is now underway, having begun Wednesday. Mail-in absentee ballots also began going out to voters who have requested them. Early, in person voting hours are as follows:

- Monday, Feb. 26 through Friday, March 1, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

- Monday, March 4 through Friday March 8, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

- Saturday, March 9, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

- Monday, March 11, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

- Tuesday, March 12, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

- Wednesday, March 13 through Friday, March 15, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

- Saturday, March 16, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

- Sunday, March 17, 1-5 p.m.

- Monday, March 18 - No early voting hours.

Voters will need to have a government-issued photo identification when voting in person. Those IDs include an Ohio driver's license; a State of Ohio ID card; Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV; a U.S. passport; U.S. passport card; a U.S. military ID card; Ohio National Guard ID card; or a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card. All photo IDs must have an expiration date that has not passed.

TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE

In a busy agenda Tuesday, the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission approved 20 resolutions for new construction, bridge repair, toll road resurfacing, or to adjust existing contracts to address increased costs. Chris Matta, chief engineer for the turnpike, told the commission that the numerous contracts approved in the resolutions include more than a dozen for engineering and maintenance, two for construction contract modifications, six for engineering service modifications, five for new engineering services contacts, three for new construction, and two for maintenance equipment. Overall, staff told the commission that bids for bridge repairs have been coming in under estimates.