Ohio
Program Category | # of Grants per state | Sum of EDA $ |
---|---|---|
Assistance to Coal Communities | 3 | $5,467,800 |
Planning | 1 | $70,000 |
Public Works | 1 | $958,885 |
Technical Assistance | 3 | $258,205 |
Grand Total | 8 | $6,754,890 |
Ohio University’s George V. Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs in partnership with the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission (OVRDC) are aiding communities in the OVRDC region that have been impacted by the decline in the coal economy. The closure of two Dayton Power & Light facilities in Adams County will have a significant detrimental impact on Adams and surrounding counties, representing the loss of 370 direct jobs at the facilities and 1,131 jobs overall.
In FY 2018, EDA awarded $1,603,204 in Assistance to Coal Communities funds to Ohio University for the Building Opportunities Beyond Coal Accelerating Transition Network project. This network will utilize economic development resources and regional collaboration to integrate activities across the OVRDC region and to accelerate the region’s transition out of the coal economy via entrepreneurial growth, workforce development, cluster expansion, Opportunity Zone enhancement, and identification of infrastructure investment needs to access local, national and global markets. Three Economic Recovery Coordinators will provide services to Adams, Lawrence, and Scioto Counties.
The results of the project will yield employment opportunities via a diversified economy for displaced workers and new opportunities for entrepreneurs and manufacturers. Ohio University and OVRDC will serve as catalysts and coordinators for economic development for this twelve-county district in southern Ohio.