The program is a collaboration among county agencies: development department, Community Improvement Corporation and the Port Authority. The Port Authority is providing the funding with $25,000 for the first year. A limited number of projects will be selected to receive up to $7,000 this year.
Greene commissioners appoint Goff as interim county engineer
The single annual grants come after the county has experienced “historic economic growth” over the past five years, said Paul Newman Jr., executive director of the Port Authority and director of Development
“Whereas we have our CIC Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP) for the attraction and expansion of local business, we now have the ability to assist our county non-profits with funding for their most important projects,” Newman said.
There are nearly 60,000 nonprofit organizations in Ohio, including about 550 in Greene County, according to county records and the Ohio Association of Nonprofit Organizations.
Ohio nonprofits employ nearly 12 percent of the state’s workforce and generate more than $103.2 billion in annual revenues, according to 2016 numbers provided by OANO.
The new grant program is a great opportunity for both CIC and the Port Authoritiy to “do some good for our community,” said John Finlay, President of the CIC.
“The nonprofit world is competitive, and there are a lot of projects that need just a little push to make it to the finish line,” Finlay said.
The Port Authority gets its revenue with “conduit financing for projects” such as the REACH center, the Greene County Combined Health District, and PACE financing for the Mall at Fairfield Commons, according to the GCDOD release.
STAY CONNECTED: Greene County News on Facebook
The CIC is responsible for approving what projects get the grant. The deadline for applying is Aug. 23.
Projects are evaluated based on the number of people served by the nonprofit; whether the project results in a slowdown of daily operations; and whether the project resolves safety issues, according to the release.
Applications are available on the county’s development department website, www.greenecountydod.org.
READ MORE ARTICLES BY THIS REPORTER
By the numbers
59,897: Nonprofit organizations in Ohio
550: Nonprofits in Greene County
$103.2 billion: Annual revenues of nonprofits statewide
$205.2 billion: Nonprofit assets statewide
$1.3 billion: Annual donations of Ohio foundations
$5.2 billion: Annual charitable donations by Ohioans
Source: Greene County and the Ohio Association of Nonprofit Organizations
About the Author