August 10, 2026

CCAO staff enjoyed visiting with the Perry County Commissioners, Congressman Troy Balderson, and Judge Tina Boyer for a tour of the county’s beautiful historic courthouse. A comprehensive renovation has brought the 1887 courthouse back to life with renewed accessibility, restored historic details as well as improved drainage, energy efficiency and security.

(Pictured, L - R: Commissioner Chase Bennett, CCAO Staffer John Leutz, Congressman Troy Balderson, and Commissioner Ben Carpenter)

CCAO Board of Directors Nominating Committee chair announced

At Friday's CCAO Board of Directors meeting, CCAO President and Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus announced Henry County Commissioner Glenn Miller as Chair of the nominating committee at Friday’s Board of Directors meeting. 

Commissioner Miller will begin naming his committee over the next couple of weeks.  Once the committee meets in September, the request for nominations letter and form will be sent out prior to the first Friday in October. 

We encourage members begin to consider whether you would be interested in being nominated for a two-year seat on the Board or an officer position on the board. NOTE: to be considered for an officer position, a member must have served at least one full year as a Board member, but that year does not need to be the current year.

Since it is an even-numbered year, there are seven two-year term seats available. Any nomination request not selected for a two-year term will be provided to the incoming president for their consideration of their nine one-year presidential appointments.

---

CCAO hosting webinar series on county-administered human services programs

Following federal and state policy changes and trends and ahead of the upcoming gubernatorial administration change in Ohio, CCAO will host a three-part webinar series to dive deeper into the important human services systems that counties administer.

Ohio delegates responsibility for the administration of many critical human service programs to counties, including public assistance, children services, and child support enforcement. Each program and funding stream comes with distinct regulations and community impacts that are important to understand. 

Registration information for each webinar can be found below. If you have questions, please contact Karla Dunbar at kdunbar@ccao.org.  

 

CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM

Thursday, August 20, 2026, 1:00 p.m.

Presenters: Angela Sausser, Executive Director, Public Children Services Association of Ohio

Scott Britton, Assistant Director, Public Children Services Association of Ohio

Mary Wachtel, Director of Public Policy, Public Children Services Association of Ohio

REGISTER HERE

 

COUNTY JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES AGENCIES

Monday, September 14, 2026

2:00 p.m.

Presenter: Jon Honeck, Executive Director, Ohio Job and Family Services Directors’ Association

REGISTER HERE

 

CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

Monday, September 28, 2026

2:00 p.m.

Presenter: Amy Roehrenbeck, Esq., Executive Director, Ohio Child Support Professionals Association

REGISTER HERE

---

OCERP Retirement Advisors holding webinar on budgeting in August

Join your Ohio County Employees Retirement Plan (OCERP) Retirement Plan Advisor for their July and August 2026 Financial Wellness Webinars:

• August: Budgeting
  • Do you have a monthly budget? Your Retirement Plan Advisor will review the basics of budgeting and how having a budget in place helps you stay on track to meet your retirement savings goal.

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.

August Webinar: Budgeting August 26, 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Northwest Registration Northeast Registration Central Registration No Southwest Webinar, please attend one of the other three

NACo provides updated information page on proposed OMB uniform guidance

NACo has published an update on the proposed federal Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Uniform Guidance proposed rule — the overhaul of federal grants administration – on its website. The US Senate included a delay of the OMB proposal in its Continuing Resolution (CR). The US House of Representatives, however, did not.

The Uniform Guidance governs every federal grant, cooperative agreement and pass-through award that counties receive – covering public safety, transportation, housing, public health, workforce development, child welfare, emergency management and more. The proposed rule introduces new national policy requirements, modifies grant termination authority, integrates grants administration with the Treasury Do Not Pay system, reclassifies 2 CFR Subtitle A from guidance to binding regulation, and revises cost principles, audit requirements and pass-through entity responsibilities.

CCAO and NACo encourage counties review the national association's information on the proposed changes and:

• Contact your Senators: Thank them for including the OMB delay language in the Senate's funding bill and urge them to keep it in as the CR moves forward. 
  
  
• Contact your Representative: Urge them to support adopting the Senate's funding bill language, since the current House CR does not include the delay. 

OEDA to host webinar on revised economic development confidentiality statute

Earlier this year, new confidentiality language in Revised Code was enacted that broadly required public bodies to treat nearly all information tied to economic development assistance as confidential, even exposing officials and employees to potential criminal liability for disclosure.

The provision caught much of the economic development community off guard. In June, the General Assembly passed House Bill 479, which narrows that requirement to individualized compensation and payroll information.

On August 18 at 1:30, the Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA) is hosting a webinar on the revised economic development confidentiality law — what changed, what it leaves unresolved, as well as what economic development professionals, local elected officials and their counsel need to do before the new provisions take effect September 23. The session will cover how to handle records, executive sessions, and disclosure decisions in the interim, along with the questions that remain even under the revised statute.

CCAO recommends that elected officials and county staff involved in economic development attend the webinar to learn more about the current provisions. 

The webinar is provided at no cost to CCAO members.

---

Application window for SFY 2027 Brownfield Remediation Grants opens tomorrow, to run through September 11

The Department of Development recently released the updated Fiscal Year 2027 guidelines and application information for the Brownfield Remediation Program. Applications will open tomorrow, August 11, and will close on September 11.

The Brownfield Remediation Program provides grants for the cleanup of brownfield sites and assists with the remediation of hazardous substances or petroleum at industrial, commercial, or institutional properties.

Remediation may include the acquisition of a brownfield, demolition performed at a brownfield, and the installation or upgrade of the minimum amount of infrastructure necessary to make a brownfield site operational for economic development activity.

The SFY 2027 program year will provide roughly $120 million in grants, with funds being awarded on a merit-based evaluation process that takes the following criteria into consideration:

• Economic merit of the project to the county, surrounding counties, and state;
• Ensuring that projects are awarded in different regions of the state;
• Readiness of the project to begin upon notification of award; and,
• Local support of the proposed project.

---

Grant table updates

The State Funding Opportunities Table below has been updated to include the following grant opportunities:

• Rural Health Transformation Program

 

The Federal Funding Opportunities Table below has been updated to include the following grant opportunities:

• Healthy Homes Production Grant Program
  
  
• Enforcement of Cybercrimes Grant Program
  
  
• Wetland Mitigation Baking Program
  
  
• Consolidated Youth Grant Program
  
  
• End Abuse in Later Life Grant Program
  
  
• Low or No Emission Grant Program
  
  
• Buses and Bus Facilities Grant Program
  
  
• Wetlands Conservation Act Standard Grant Program

---

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
Continuum of Care and Youth Homelessness Program	To provide funding to enable the quick rehousing of homeless individuals, families, and other vulnerable populations.	General availability	$4 billion available Local match of at least 25%	August 26, 2026
Healthy Homes Production Grant Program	To address multiple childhood diseases and injuries in the home by focusing on housing-related hazards in a coordinated fashion, rather than addressing a single hazard at a time.	General availability	$97.85 million available Local "leverage" required (see full description for explanation)	August 31, 2026
Local Law Enforcement Grants for Enforcement of Cybercrimes Program	To support the prevention, enforcement, and prosecution of cybercrimes against individuals (defined as criminal offenses that involve the use of a computer to harass, threaten, stalk, extort, coerce, cause fear to, or intimidate an individual, or without consent distribute intimate images of an adult).	General availability	$6.75 million available No local match required	September 1, 2026
Wetland Mitigation Banking Program	To support the development and establishment of mitigation banks and banking opportunities solely for agricultural producers with wetlands subject to the wetland conservation compliance provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985 (as amended).	General availability	$3 million available Local match of 20% of project cost	September 8, 2026
Consolidated Youth Grant Program	To support community-based efforts to develop or expand prevention, intervention, treatment, and response strategies addressing the needs of children and youth (ages 0-24) affected by domestic/dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking. It also supports work with men and youth to prevent those crimes.	General availability	$14 million available No local match required	September 8, 2026
Training and Services to End Abuse in Later Life Program	To support a comprehensive approach to addressing abuse in later life, including domestic/dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, neglect, abandonment, economic abuse, or willful harm committed against victims who are 50 years of age or older.	General availability	$8 million available No local match required	September 14, 2026
Low or No Emission Bus Grant Program	To support the purchase or lease of low-emission and zero-emission transit buses, including acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities.	Local governments that operate fixed-route bus service.	$589 million available Local match of 20% required (some exceptions apply)	September 21, 2026
Buses and Bus Facilities Program	To support the purchase, rehabilitate, or lease of buses and related equipment, and to support the construction, purchase, rehabilitation, or lease of bus-related facilities.	Local governments that operate fixed-route bus service.	$21 million available Local match of 20% required (some exceptions apply)	September 21, 2026
North American Wetlands Conservation Act Standard	To support projects that involve long-term protection, restoration, and/or enhancement of wetlands and associated uplands habitats for the benefit of all wetlands-associated migratory birds.	General availability	$46 million available 1-to-1 local match required	September 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

^{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.}

---

Northeast District

Lorain Lighthouse’s new cameras prove vital in boater rescues
Spectrum1 News, August 5, 2026
A historic Lorain landmark is taking on a new role along Lake Erie.

New high-resolution cameras installed at the Lorain Lighthouse are giving residents and visitors a live view of the lakefront while also helping first responders spot boaters in trouble.

The lighthouse, which has stood on Lake Erie since 1917, remains a symbol of the city and a source of pride for many in the community.

“It’s an icon, it’s the jewel of the port. It’s part of Lorain and always will be,” said Frank Sipkovsky, a longtime volunteer with the Lorain Lighthouse Foundation.

Sipkovsky has volunteered with the foundation for over 30 years and helped oversee restoration efforts at the lighthouse.

“We’ve come a long way,” Sipkovsky said. “When we started the lighthouse, we didn’t think we’d get this far along as it is today. We hope the people of Lorain enjoy it.”

Lorain County Commissioner Jeff Riddell said officials first installed the camera system to showcase the city’s lakefront and encourage tourism.

“It promotes the city of Lorain in a positive light,” Riddell said. “For decades everyone’s talked about how we have to cash in on the lakefront. It’s our biggest asset, it’s our biggest draw for the quality of life for residents as well as visitors.”

Soon after crews activated the cameras, officials discovered they could serve another purpose: helping protect people on the water.

According to Riddell, the person installing the cameras spotted kayakers in trouble while monitoring the system and alerted authorities so they could respond.

In another case, the cameras captured a sailboat in distress near the breakwall. Jim Lumadue said rough conditions made it difficult for the woman on board to control the boat.

“It was heading towards the breakwall,” Lumadue said. “At that time there were like four-foot waves out there. So it was a woman on board, and she was having trouble handling the boat. We were able to get between the breakwall and the boat and toss her a line.”

Sipkovsky said the camera system has become a valuable safety tool for charter operators and emergency responders.

---

Southwest District

50-year lease secures future of Clark County Fairgrounds
Springfield News Sun, August 3, 2026
Clark County commissioners have signed a 50-year lease agreement with the Clark County Agricultural Society to protect the fairgrounds for years to come.

Commissioners President Sasha Rittenhouse, Charles Patterson, Greg Kaffenbarger, Chief Legal Counsel Beau Thompson, Agricultural Society/Fairgrounds Executive Director Dean Blair and Board President Jay Flax signed the lease after the July 29 commission meeting.

“This is exciting,” Rittenhouse said. “We want to make sure that we protect these fairgrounds because, while the three of us are very ag-friendly and understand the importance of this fairgrounds, you never know what a group of commissioners may think in 10 or 20 years. So, we wanted to set this up to protect this fairgrounds and make sure it’s here to serve its purpose in our community.”

The 50-year agreement is effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2076, and the resolution’s purpose states:

“Lease all of the 119.93 acre tract conveyed to the Board of County Commissioners by deed … excluding the portion of that tract contemplated by the Ground Lease between the Board of County Commissioners of Clark County, Ohio and the Ohio Equine and Agricultural Association dated November 19, 2003.”

Flax thanked the commissioners for doing the lease with them, and Blair explained business is good at the fairgrounds and things are going well.

“We get 50 more years out of this site. None of us know what’s going to be in 50 years, but … this is great news for the community of Clark County and we appreciate all your help and cooperation,” Flax said.

“I can’t thank you guys enough on these 50 years … It’s wonderful, it’s great and it’s fun to see all this going on. We’ve got exciting things on the horizon,” Blair said.

AUGUST 14
CORSA Board of Directors Meeting

AUGUST 21
CEBCO Board of Directors Meeting

AUGUST 30 - SEPTEMBER 1
CCAO Summer Symposium

SEPTEMBER 1
CCAO Board of Directors Meeting (at Summer Symposium)

OCTOBER 2
CCAO/CEAO Southeast District Meeting (RSVP by September 15)