Saturday, February 18, 2012
By Denise Dick
Canfield
A grant proposal for shared technology services for local governments in Mahoning County will likely be submitted, but it remains to be seen which entities will participate.
About 16 people attended an informational meeting Friday at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center to learn about the Local Government Innovation Fund, which offers grants and loans for shared services.
Area Cooperative Computerized Educational Support System, a council of governments owned by school districts in Mahoning and Columbiana counties, already provides shared services to schools so it’s taking the lead to determine if other governments want to pursue something similar.
The first step is applying for a grant to fund a feasibility study. John LaPlante, ACCESS executive director, said the study’s findings will determine if and how to proceed. The grant application is due March 1.
LaPlante said that with ACCESS, Mahoning County, the Mahoning County Educational Service Center and the Mahoning County Auditor’s office on board, they’ll likely move forward with the grant application. He’s hoping other entities participate as well.
Struthers, Canfield and Springfield townships, Boardman, Austintown and Goshen were among the entities represented at Friday’s meeting.
“It’s worth taking a look and seeing what the study finds,” said Struthers Mayor Terry Stocker.
Michael Sciortino, Mahoning County auditor, said the network could build upon the Mahoning/Youngstown Information System, or MYRIS, which connects the county’s data center with Youngstown, Austintown, Boardman and Canfield.
He said the way government used to do business is a thing of the past.
“The money is just not there as it was for us in the past,” Sciortino said. “We have to change and adapt or we’ll fail.”
Agencies that dole out grant funding want to see collaborative efforts, he said.
While the grant requires a local match, LaPlante said that in-kind matches are allowed — and project management work and what’s already been done with MYRIS will constitute a match.
Grant money cannot be used for equipment though. Once the study is complete, the entities may apply for loans for equipment if there’s interest.