April 9, 2020
Hello,
Thank you for all you are doing in your day to day activities to stay safe, stay home and flatten the curve. State officials report we are starting to see it pay off, and forecasts for pandemic related hospitalizations and deaths are dropping. All official notices are updated daily at the official source www.coronavirus.ohio.gov.
Here are a few bits of news from the OVRDC team. Wishing you a Good Friday and Happy Easter Weekend from all of us here at OVRDC.
ARC Deadline Extended
The deadline for submitting an ARC project pre-application to Jessica Keeton has been moved back to June 26, 2020. Please contact Jessica with any questions you may have. For assistance email jkeeton@ovrdc.org.
Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC)
For the latest information on OPWC funding and processing (due to the impact of CoVid-19) please check the website frequently for official updates https://www.pwc.ohio.gov/
Public Comment on Rural Transportation Improvement Plan (RTIP)
The public is invited to view and submit feedback on the RTIP Draft plan for 2021-2024 on the OVRDC website HERE. The comment period for RTIP Plan ends April 12, 2020. Due to the coronavirus, online review will be the only scheduled time to submit your comment to OVRDC on the RTIP. And, you may also view and comment on ODOT’s STIP Plan by April 10, 2020, HERE.
For maximum regional coordination now is the time to view the draft plans and give your feedback, so regional and state officials can incorporate suggestions from local stakeholders. For more information contact Transportation Coordinator Stephanie Gilbert, sgilbert@ovrdc.org.
Executive Committee Meeting Scheduled for April 23 will be Held Online
The Executive Committee monthly meeting will be held Thursday, April 23, 2020, at 1:30 pm via online video conference, with accommodation to participate via phone. Committee meetings will also be held on the same day. Details for joining the meeting, with instructions and agenda will be coming soon via email and posted to the website. Contact Kerri Richardson with questions or comments at krichardson@ovrdc.org. The public is invited to join the meeting.
Senator Portman and Senator Brown Working to Bring Federal Relief with CARES Act
The CARES Act is a mix of economic stimulus for people and businesses, plus support for the health care system. The aid package includes funding for many aspects of daily life including unemployment benefits, direct relief payments, stimulus packages, medical care and hospital system support, loan and loan forgiveness, small business support, guidelines for consumer protections and more.
Senator Brown has reached out to hear from Southern Ohio and OVRDC members. Southern Ohio concerns will be represented by Executive Director Hemmings participating in conversations to carry regional concerns, questions and local problems to the attention of legislators. The senator is hosting Small Business CoVid-19 Conference Calls on resources available to Ohio workers and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Senator Portman has published a concise document explaining the CARES Act and we will be sharing some of those highlights in a newsletter coming next week. Of specific benefit are the details on how CARES impacts rural communities, farmers and small businesses. Full details are HERE
Newly Created Ohio Office of Small Business Relief will Help Businesses Navigate CARES Support through the Ohio Development Services Agency
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted just announced the creation of the Office of Small Business Relief within the Ohio Development Services Agency. The Office will coordinate state efforts to identify and provide direct support for Ohio’s nearly 950,000 small businesses.
The Office will initially focus on three key areas:
- It will serve as the state’s designated agency for administrating federal recovery funds awarded to Ohio for small business support and recovery.
- It will work with federal, state, and local partners to evaluate and determine possible regulatory reforms that encourage employment and job creation.
It will coordinate efforts of the Ohio Small Business Development Centers and Minority Business Assistance Centers at local levels.
Additional Help for People and Businesses are found here:
CoVid-19 Resources Links from OhioSE
