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LISBON -- A meeting for government officials from Columbiana County villages, cities and townships to learn more about funding available for projects will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. March 5 at the county Port Authority building, Lincole Place.
The county commissioners on Wednesday announced the time and date for the session known as the Community Development Implementation Strategy meeting.
"This event will be a great opportunity for our communities to hear what we do and potentially look at new funding opportunities that exist," county Port Authority Recovery Coordinator Bobby Ritchie said when contacted.
The agenda will include a commissioner's welcome, a consortium overview, information about the Port Authority, information about the Economic Development department, a presentation by the Envision Group of Cleveland regarding downtown renovation projects, the Fair Housing/CHIP Program (Community Housing Improvement Program), Community Development Block Grant Program and time for questions and project discussions.
Ritchie said he sent needs worksheets to officials in the various communities, asking for the jurisdiction and description of their project, whether it's in a low to moderate income census tract and the crucialness of the project based on safety, health and general welfare with a rating from minimal to extensive. They also must answer whether leveraged funds have been identified for the project and the number of households or residents that could be impacted by the project.
The last CDIS meeting was held in 2022, with meetings every two years on the same cycle as the CDBG funding.
"We're trying to get the word out that this exists," Ritchie said.
Many communities are already well aware of the meeting regarding the funding and attend regularly. Community leaders are asked to RSVP so Ritchie has an idea of how many people will be attending.
He said all of the communities have a project in mind. Through this meeting, the officials can learn what funding is available through CDBG and other avenues.
This year he noted the Envision Group of Cleveland has been invited to make a presentation regarding downtown renovation projects.
Any community that hasn't received the information about the meeting can contact Ritchie at 330-424-1800.
In other business, commissioners followed the recommendation of Columbiana County Department of Job and Family Services Director Rachel Ketterman and approved the hiring of Lisa Cook of Leetonia as an eligibility referral specialist in the public assistance division and Reign Bruno of Youngstown as a social service worker II in the social services division.
Also approved was a contract for fingerprinting of Community Action Agency of Columbiana County employees by DJFS from March 1 this year to Feb. 28, 2025 with a contract ceiling of $6,000. In this case, she explained the money will be coming into DJFS as payment from CAA for the fingerprinting service.
The next meeting of the commissioners will be 9 a.m. Feb. 28 in the downtown courthouse.