Four things you need to know from Franklin County's 2022 State of the County report

Clarification: A previous version of this story was unclear as to how many people completed the Diversity Apprenticeship Program. Five people completed the program, and 36 are expected to find jobs.

From responding to a second year of the COVID-19 pandemic to improving racial equity, Franklin County spent much of 2021 aiming to serve as a safety net for those in need.

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners highlights those efforts and more in its 2022 State of the County report, which is being released Tuesday.

The Dispatch recently sat down with board President Erica Crawley, who became a commissioner in July after two years in the Ohio House of Representatives, to talk about the county's efforts in 2021 and what's coming in 2022.

Here are four things you need to know from the report:

Franklin County distributed nearly $10 million in COVID aid last year

As the county entered the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, it continued to help those in need. That included nearly $3.7 million in grants and loans to small businesses, more than $6 million in rent and mortgage assistance to families and $5 million in economic support to nonprofits.

"We were able to help a number of nonprofits and small businesses with CARES Act funding and ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) dollars to help them navigate the pandemic in understanding their bottom lines were impacted but also giving small businesses the chance to grow and expand," Crawley said.

"We know that small businesses are the economic driver of our community, but they can't flourish if people can't meet their basic needs."

The county also provided home test kits and more than 8 million pieces of personal protective equipment: 3.7 million masks, 4.8 million gloves, 75,300 gowns and 122,000 faces shields, according to the report.

New Intel plant will increase need for affordable housing

As Intel continues its efforts to build a New Albany plant in nearby Licking County, Franklin County officials hope it will bring jobs to the region, which is already experiencing steady population growth.

But, it also means making sure there are enough places for workers to live — places they can afford.

"We already have a housing crisis, so what will Intel do to either help or hurt that housing crisis because it will be attracting more people to central Ohio," Crawley said. Commissioners are talking with the company about what it can do to help ensure its employees are able to find affordable places to live, she said.

In 2021, the county invested $8.7 million in seven affordable housing projects, resulting in 600 new units across the county. They range in size from 44 units at McKinley Manor in Franklinton to the 102-unit Enclave on Main in Whitehall, according to the report.

Improving racial equity: Work ongoing

Continuing the work it started in 2020 with the creation of an Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the county formed a Racial Equity Council comprising representatives from each department to discuss race and inequity.

The panel developed a list of 11 recommendations for ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion remain at the heart of what the county does.

Among its recommendations are to develop standards and best practices across all departments, incorporating them into hiring, contracting and purchasing; create training focused on empathy and safe spaces; and working with a trauma specialist.

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Training topics include "microaggressions in the workplace, understanding shared life experiences but also how we deal with contractors and nonprofits," Crawley said.

In addition, the county's Business Growth and Equity Fund, created in 2020 in partnership with the Columbus Urban League, added nearly $1 million in funding for grants and loans to small, minority-owned businesses, drawing interest from more than 4,300 people and generating more than 2,440 applications within the first month and a half, according to the report.

The Diversity Apprentice Program, created in partnership with the Experience Columbus convention and visitors bureau, also is expected to help 36 people find good careers in travel, tourism and hospitality industries, according to the report.

New jail, set to open in 2022, to offer 'human-centered' approach

A new $360 million jail on Fisher Road will open this year, replacing the Downtown jail that was built five decades ago and designed for an outdated corrections model.

Not only will the new facility west of Downtown use a more modern direct supervision model, with deputies stationed inside areas that house inmates, and open pods, but it also will offer specialized programs for those with mental health challenges and suffering from addiction, Crawley said.

"I'm excited about the human-centered approach to this facility that will be coming online," she said.

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As with the new Forensic Science Center, the jail also will be LEED certified. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design recognizes "buildings that help save money, improve efficiency, lower carbon emissions and create healthier places for people to live and work," according to the report.

The changes also coincide with other new programs, such as the Rapid Resource Center, which helped connect 1,141 individuals getting out of jail or their family members with housing, clothes, benefits and other services.

nshuda@gannett.com

@NathanielShuda

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Franklin County 2022 State of the County report: Four things to know