Columbiana officials want more grants

By D.A. Wilkinson | May 21, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

There’s still plenty of money out there.

LISBON — There is still American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds available for Columbiana County projects, but the commissioners hope to get even more money through grants.

Penny Traina, the president of the commissioners, said Wednesday that 65 to 70 local officials attended a meeting to start looking for grant opportunities through traditional funding sources with the help of the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association.

OMEGA helps governments prepare and submit grant proposals to the Appalachian Regional Commission. Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties are part of Appalachia.

Local leaders can seek ARC funding for projects, but it requires a local share equal to the amount sought in the grant proposal.

One reason for the local meeting was to help people complete lengthy applications for funding long-standing programs.

The commissioners have asked for funding through the stimulus program to pay for a new government building in Lisbon. The estimated total cost is $8 million, which the county can’t afford on its own.

“We’re still hopeful that funding will be announced through the federal stimulus money,” Traina said.

If funding is found, the building would house the county’s Department of Job and Family Services, the board of elections and veterans-affairs department.

Federal stimulus funds funneled to the states fall under state management.

“There are different pots of money” that could be available to the county, said state Rep. Linda Bolon of Columbiana, D-1st.

Since May 8 alone, the federal government has posted on Recovery.Ohio.gov various projects that include discretionary transportation grants, funding for nonprofit organizations and faith-based groups, and nearly $1 billion to improve public housing.

Bolon said that when it comes to announcing available funding for stimulus money, application information, completion dates, and other information, “it’s very confusing. It’s all over the place.”

wilkinson@vindy.com