More than $61 million granted in brownfield grants, $24 million in set-asides remain
Last week, Governor Mike DeWine and Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik announced the awarding of $61.1 million in grants under the Brownfield Remediation Program.
The funds will go to 84 cleanup and remediation projects and 76 assessment projects across 75 counties. A description of each project can be found here.
The grants are the latest under the program, which began in 2021. More than 840 projects totaling nearly $740 million have been funded across the state through the life of the program.
Under HB 96, the current state operating budget, each county received a set-aside of $1 million in SFY 2026. The map below highlights the counties that still have all or a portion of their set-aside remaining.
The full amount of remaining set-aside funds is available on the program website.
Counties with remaining funds will be able to submit new applications starting today and running through June 5 to utilize the funds before the conclusion of the state fiscal year at the end of June.
A total of $108 million is appropriated under the program for SFY 2027, but there are no county set-asides for next fiscal year. Instead, all applications will be evaluated by merit.
OCERP Retirement Plan Advisors holding May and June 2026 Financial Wellness Webinars!
Next week and in the last week of June, Ohio County Employees Retirement Plan (OCERP) Retirement Plan Advisors will be hosting webinars on financial wellness. The webinars will have the following focuses:
- May: Planning for Healthcare Costs
- Many worry about how they will be able to cover healthcare costs in retirement. This webinar covers the basics of Medicare and planning for your possible expenses.
- June: Myths about Retirement Plans
- This webinar identifies myths regarding account security, accessing your money, contributions, investing and more.
Registration is required, but is free. Please select the registration link in the table below based on which OCERP region your work location is located within. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email that includes the meeting access information.
Top Top Meagan Hoffman named new assistant director of 4-H Youth Development
The following is an excerpt from a notice sent by David Civittolo, interim Associate Dean and Director, Ohio State University Extension.
I am pleased to announce that Meagan Hoffman, PhD, will become the next assistant director, 4-H Youth Development, for Ohio State University Extension, effective July 1, 2026 pending approval by The Ohio State University Board of Trustees. This will be a four-year appointment.
As assistant director and state 4-H leader, Meagan will provide organizational, cross-disciplinary, and creative leadership for Ohio 4-H youth development programming. Meagan will provide guidance to all Ohio 4-H professionals, whose programs reach more than 196,000 youth across the state and coordinate with more than 12,400 adult volunteers each year.
As assistant director, Meagan will set the strategic direction of Ohio 4-H and work to develop collaboration between Ohio 4-H faculty, staff, and stakeholders. She will establish productive relationships with internal and external partners of Ohio 4-H, including but not limited to other Extension program areas, CFAES administration and central support units, academic units in CFAES and across the university, county commissioners, fair organizations/boards, and other local partners who collaborate with 4-H across Extension’s statewide campus.
Meagan will ensure that Ohio 4-H programs are based on evidence-informed practices of the field of youth development. She also will ensure Ohio 4-H is an active participant in national 4-H efforts to support and advance the 4-H movement. This role also includes providing financial and operational oversight of the state 4-H office and Ohio 4-H Foundation.
This appointment comes as the result of a national search. Meagan most recently served as an associate professor and Extension 4-H youth development specialist with North Dakota State University Extension. Prior to her role with NDSU Extension, Meagan was a county 4-H youth agent in Mississippi.
Meagan earned her doctoral degree in agricultural education with a focus on agricultural leadership in 2016, from Oklahoma State University. She earned her master’s degree in agricultural and Extension education in 2004, and her bachelor’s degree in human sciences (human development and family studies) in 2002, both from Mississippi State University.
Most recently, Meagan was recognized with the North Central Regional Visionary Leadership Award at the 2025 Epsilon Sigma Phi Conference; and she has served as the inaugural Kirkeide Fellow with North Dakota State University Extension since January 2025, with a focus on career readiness and workforce development for youth across the state of North Dakota.
Congress considering housing bill with key county provisions; NACo briefing webinar to be held TODAY
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives introduce H.R. 6644 (the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act), a piece of federal housing legislation that incorporates many provisions supported by NACo.
NACo will be hosting a webinar TODAY at 3:00 p.m. to review the provisions of the bill. Registration can be completed here.
Among the changes that NACo supported that were incorporated into the current version of the bill were modifications to how the Community Development Block Grant is tied to local housing production and modifications to the degree of divestment required for large institutional investors.
More information about the bill can be found here. Top State funding opportunities
The table below contains current state grant or loan programs. A more comprehensive list can be found on the Ohio Grants Partnership webpage.
Grant Program
|
Brief Summary
|
Eligibility Criteria
|
Amount Available
|
Application Due Date
|
| County Coastal Erosion Control Loan Program |
To provide financing for construction of erosion control structures in coastal erosion areas. |
Counties with Lake Erie shoreline containing coastal erosion areas:
Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Erie, Lake, Lorain, Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky
|
Unspecified total, no maximum per request |
May 22, 2026 |
| Dam Safety Loan Program |
To provide financing for planning, design, and construction of dams and repairs. |
Counties, county sewer districts, and soil and water conservation districts, among others |
Maximum loan: $7.5 million |
May 22, 2026 |
| H2Ohio Conservation Ditch Program |
To fund construction of two-stage and self-forming ditches. |
Soil and water conservation districts and county engineers |
Unspecified, funding model is reimbursement |
June 1, 2026 |
| Brownfield Remediation Program |
To assist communities in the remediation of hazardous substances or petroleum at an industrial, commercial, institutional property, or other brownfield site. |
Counties with remaining funds (map) |
Dependent on amount of remaining funds |
June 5, 2026 |
| Ohio Sexual Assault Investigations Grant Program |
To reimburse for the cost of testing sexual assault kits, including capacity building for agencies that complete sexual assault investigations |
Law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and crime labs |
Unspecified, funding model is reimbursement |
June 10, 2026 |
| Extradition Reimbursement Program |
To reimburse LEAs for the cost of in-state and out-of-state extraditions. |
Law enforcement agencies and prosecutor's offices |
Unspecified total, no maximum per request; No match |
June 10, 2026 |
| Shine a Light on Dumpers Program |
To assist local governments in cleaning existing solid-waste dump sites and to take preventative action to deter future dumping. |
Counties and other local governments |
Max awards: $100,000 (clean-up projects);
$20,000 (deterrence projects)
|
July 31, 2026 |
Federal funding opportunities
The table below contains a sampling of current federal grant or loan programs. A full list can be found on Grants.gov.
Grant Program
|
Brief Summary
|
Eligibility Criteria
|
Amount Available
|
Application Due Date
|
| Youth Gang Prevention and Intervention Program |
To support the implementation of intervention and suppression strategies to reduce youth gang crime and to promote public safety. |
General Availability |
Maximum award: $500,000
No match required
|
May 21, 2026 |
| Rural Law Enforcement Violent Crime Reduction Initiative |
To support rural law enforcement and prosecutors through implementation of a crime reduction strategy that utilizes at least one of three specified approaches. |
Counties serving rural areas
|
Maximum award: $400,000
No match required
|
May 27, 2026 |
| De-escalation and Crisis Response Training Program |
To support the development, implementation, and/or expansion of de-escalation and crisis response training programs that improve law enforcement responses to and outcomes for individuals in crisis who have behavioral health conditions or physical or intellectual disabilities. |
General Availability |
Maximum award: $700,000
No match required
|
June 6, 2026 |
| Cooperative Landslide Hazard Mapping and Assessment Program |
To assist in the assessment and management of landslide risks through hazard mapping, public education, and community preparedness. |
General Availability |
Maximum award: $250,000
No match required
|
June 10, 2026 |
| Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program |
To improve railroad safety, efficiency, and reliability, to mitigate congest at both intercity passenger rail and freight rail choke points, and to enhance multi-modal connections. |
General Availability |
Total available: $2 billion
Local match of at least 20% (limited exceptions apply)
|
June 22, 2026 |
| Defense Community Infrastructure Program |
To address deficiencies in community infrastructure supportive of a military installation. |
Counties in proximity to a military installation |
Maximum award: $20 million
Local match of at least 30% (limited exceptions apply)
|
June 25, 2026 |
| Title X Family Planning Services Grants |
To promote the general family planning programs and goals under Title X of the Public Health Service Act. |
General Availability |
Maximum award: $22 million
Local match of between 1% and 10%
|
January 9, 2027 |
Save the Date! 2026 Innovation Summit to be held on July 30
The Ohio Innovation and Technology Association recently announced that it will hold the 2026 Innovation Summit on Thursday, July 30, in Columbus.
The Summit, which traditionally includes cabinet directors, legislative leaders, local government officials, and private sector leaders, will have a focus on artificial intelligence this year.
Planned topics include:
- The State of AI
- AI Impact on Private Industry Sectors
- AI Demos from OITA Partners
- Data Centers & Energy Solutions
- AI Policy Discussions
- AI Deployment in Government
Future editions of Counties Current will include information on how to register once registration for the event opens. Top Each week Counties Current highlights the happenings in our counties in the words of their local media.
One story from each of the CCAO's five districts is highlighted, and on occasion other stories may be highlighted as well.
A paid subscription may be required to view the full article in some cases.
Northwest District
Lucas County hires new contractor to provide health care at jail
Toledo Blade, May 12, 2026
After finding the current provider of health-care services at the Lucas County jail “falling a little short,” county officials on Tuesday announced they were switching vendors.
Lucas County selected Armor Health as the jail’s new health-care provider and will pay about $5 million annually for its services after an initial six-month period.
VitalCore currently provides the jail’s health services and has held the contract since July, 2024. After an initial 16-month service period at $5.1 million, the county renewed the contract for 2026 for an annual cost of $4,147,596.72.
The contract with Armor Health is for an initial six-month period at $2,395,255, with three one-year renewals. The renewals will begin at $4,887,081 and increase about 4 percent each year through 2030. The company will begin providing services at the jail in late June.
However, Armor Health has been convicted of a felony in Wisconsin for abuse of an inmate and was banned from operating in New York for three years for “egregious lapses in medical care” resulting in seven deaths, according to recent reporting by ProPublica.
County commissioners approved the sheriff's search for a new provider in March. Lindsay Szymczak, administrator of the sheriff’s health services department, said the current company was “falling a little short” of expectations.
“We just felt like the company we’re with was falling a little short, so we’re excited for an opportunity to pivot and make some changes,” she previously said.
Northeast District
Lake County approves $50K for Forbes House domestic violence shelter
Cleveland.com, May 11, 2026
Lake County commissioners on Thursday approved a $50,000 agreement with Forbes House using federal grant money.
County Administrator Jason Boyd said Forbes House will use the $50,000 in federal HOME funding, which comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, for a tenant-based rental assistance project serving survivors of domestic violence.
Rental assistance provides financial support to low-income households for housing costs such as rent and security deposits.
In this case, Forbes House will use the money to help eligible survivors maintain housing stability, avoid homelessness and live in safe, affordable housing, Boyd said.
Forbes House, based in Painesville Township, is Lake County’s only domestic violence shelter and provides emergency shelter, advocacy and support services for survivors of domestic violence.
The county chose to give Forbes House the award last year, but couldn’t distribute the money until the federal government released the funds. That approval recently came through, allowing commissioners to finalize the agreement.
Central District
Richland County commissioners oppose data center plan, but cannot ban them
Richland Source, May 12, 2026
Richland County commissioners repeated again Tuesday their opposition to a proposed data center in Franklin Township.
But they also don’t have the authority to ban such facilities in the county, according to Commissioner Tony Vero.
“(We) don’t have legal authority to do that,” Vero said. “County (commissioners) are not a legislative body. So we can’t just place a data center moratorium on the whole county.”
His comments came in response to a request from county resident Pam Taylor, who is helping spearhead a local effort to ensure such a data center is not built in Franklin Township.
Under Ohio law, cities, villages and townships can block such projects through local ordinances. Earlier this month, for example, Ontario City Council approved a six-month moratorium on any such project.
That moratorium includes consideration, acceptance and/or granting of any applications relating to data centers supporting artificial intelligence within the city of Ontario.
Vero said the 2025 move by commissioners to ban commercial wind/solar projects in 11 of the county’s 18 townships “was a little different because the state of Ohio gave us authority to prohibit large wind and solar.”
No such authority has been issued with regards to data centers.
Southwest District
Can Butler County issue a county-wide data centers moratorium?
Journal-News, May 12, 2026
The Butler County commissioners haven’t yet acted on a request to pause data center developments in areas where they control zoning, but other communities have outright banned them or placed moratoriums on the controversial digital utilities.
St. Clair Twp. could be in the crosshairs for another mega data center in Trenton. The trustees passed a yearlong moratorium on data centers May 5, noting the state is planning to establish a commission to study the impact of data centers.
“This board also recognizes that due to such potential demand for land in and around St. Clair Twp. for data centers and related services, the current zoning resolution needs to be reviewed and updated to ensure proper development can occur within St. Clair Twp.,” the resolution reads.
Trenton has a 1 million-square-foot data center by Prologis underway and is in the process of trying to annex 600 acres from Madison and St. Clair townships.
The county commissioners must approve the land swap.
St. Clair Trustee Dustin Gadd told the Journal-News he met with Trenton city officials about the proposed annexation, but it was not a fruitful exchange. City residents have been unhappy throughout the Prologis data center development process, saying they have been kept in the dark.
Gadd said the township feels the same way; that’s part of the reason for the moratorium.
Southeast District
Jefferson Co. commissioners say their hands are tied on water line move
Weirton Daily Times, May 15, 2026
Jefferson County commissioners said they are being required to relocate a water line in the 1800 block of state Route 151 between New Alexandria and Georges Run because of a planned culvert replacement project by the Ohio Department of Transportation.
ODOT plans to replace and extend an existing culvert beneath the roadway where Georges Run flows under the highway before discharging into the Ohio River. The county’s 4-inch water line is located within the state’s right-of-way, requiring it to be moved before construction can begin.
Andrew Dawson of Arcadis Engineering told commissioners Thursday the existing 32-foot culvert will be extended to more than 100 feet.
He said the new structure will extend 28 feet beyond the current limits on the north side of the road and 40 feet beyond the current limits on the south side of state Route 151.
ODOT has requested the county submit a relocation plan by October, with work expected to be completed during the summer of 2027.
Dawson said the county has no alternative but to comply because the water line is within ODOT’s right-of-way.
He said it is too early to estimate the cost of the project, though officials hope it will remain below the public bidding threshold. Dawson noted the county’s work must be completed before ODOT begins construction and said the area contains heavy vegetation with no existing access roads leading to the water line.
He added there are about 300 miles of water lines running beneath roadways throughout Jefferson County that must be maintained.
Commissioner Tony Morelli said state and federal mandates continue creating financial burdens for local governments. Top MAY 20 - 22
CEBCO Board of Directors Retreat
MAY 25
Memorial Day - Holiday
MAY 29
CCAO / CEAO Central District Meeting
JUNE 11
CCAO / CEAO Northwest District Meeting
JUNE 12
CORSA Board of Directors Meeting
JUNE 19
Juneteenth - Holiday
JUNE 26
CEBCO Board of Directors Meeting Top
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