Columbiana city manager urges voting for grants
By D.A. WILKINSON
COLUMBIANA
City Manager Keith Chamberlin wants people to vote in an online program that could bring grant funds to the city.
The program is being promoted by www.efficientgovnow.org/vote. Its spokesman, Chris Thompson, said the program is a collaboration “of philanthropy that awards grants to strengthen the region’s economic competitiveness.”
EfficientGovNow.org decided to have the public decide the winners because it believes the public will ultimately drive more government collaboration.
To take part in the program, the city of Columbiana, the Buckeye Water District in Columbiana County and four other communities formed a partnership with the Ohio Rural Community Assistance Program, a nonprofit agency that provided free assistance in preparing their grant-seeking proposal.
Ten proposals were made from entities in the 16 counties served by www.efficientgovnow.org/vote. Three proposals will be selected and will divide a total of $330,000.
Chamberlin said the local program is seeking $100,000 for mapping.
To vote, people should go to EfficientGovNow.org. People can vote for projects outside their area but can vote only once.
Jason Martin, the technology director at the Columbiana schools, sent out an e-mail about the voting. People should go to www.efficientgovnow.org/vote, and select Proposal “D : GIS Cooperative for Small Communities and Utilities.”
The voting ends May 31.
The other communities involved with Columbiana are Geneva in Ashtabula County, Carrollton in Carroll County, Lakemore in Summit County and Wellington in Lorain County.