CIC focusing on grant effort to help drive county forward
Entering the new year, the Cambridge-Guernsey County Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) has a high priority goal.
The CIC agenda has assumed local leadership of an effort to secure funds from Gov. Mike DeWine’s massive funding opportunity through the Appalachian Community Grant Program.
The $500 million program provides planning and development grants for communities located in Ohio’s 32-county Appalachian region. Program funds are provided by Ohio’s designation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. The program is administered by the Governor’s Office of Appalachia within the Ohio Department of Development.
Projects should be designed to bring about transformational change and be a catalyst for future development by providing generational investments in the Appalachian region.
"The CIC has led the county's economic development initiatives for decades in our local area," Norm Blanchard, Economic Development director of the CIC explained, "often funneling projects to appropriate sister organizations such as the Port Authority or Community Industrial Association. However, the high-profile opportunity to solicit significant funding for transformational projects throughout the county made CIC leadership most appropriate."
"With all 32 counties in Appalachian Ohio competing for the grant dollars, competition will be intense, with only the most impactful and sustainable projects receiving the grant funding," Blanchard said. "Securing that grant money will go a long way towards allowing us to complete some of the 25 projects we are currently considering. That will be a key factor in the amount of projects we will be able to complete this year. It would be like a pot of gold towards allowing us to get some projects accomplished that will benefit our community."
Projects under consideration locally include a trail extension, workforce initiative, downtown renovations, tourism possibilities and heath care.
Blanchard said a steering committee was formed by CIC Board membership and associates will be responsible for researching the value of each project submitted for consideration. Chaired by Ray Chorey, former CEO of the Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center, the nine-member committee is currently interviewing for more than 25 projects seeking funding through the Appalachian Grant.
"It will be the committee’s job to determine which of the proposed projects can be assembled into a comprehensive grant application which is truly transformational, Blanchard added. "We are looking at projects that involve trail extension, workforce initiatives, downtown renovations, tourism possibilities and healthcare."
The committee has worked with a consultant to apply for an initial funding injection offered by the State of Ohio in the form of a Technical Assistance Grant. The fund source, in the amount of $250,000, provides for the hiring of a project manager and technical assistance adviser. These positions will assist in guiding the CIC through the process of developing the project funding application to be presented in November of this year.
Projects with a shovel-ready status could receive funding in round one of the Appalachian Grant and be moved to round two in November 2024. Along with the transformational requirement of the grant, the application must demonstrate that the project is sustainable for at least a period of 20 years.
The Cambridge-Guernsey County CIC had been requesting for proposal from applicants interested in partnering with the CIC for the management of funds received from the Appalachian Community Grant Program. Positions offered were for project manager and rural entrepreneurial ecosystems assistance. Details about the Appalachian Community Grant Program are available on the CIC website, www.cgccic.org.
kstutton1@gannett.com; @KSuttonDJSports
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: CIC focusing on grant effort to help drive county forward
