An Overview of the Clean Ohio Fund
In November of 2000, voters of the State of Ohio passed Issue I which authorized the sale of $400,000,000 in bonds to pay the costs of projects for environmental conservation and revitalization purposes. Known as the Clean Ohio Fund, the legislation was passed and signed by Governor Taft in July of 2001. The bill provides a framework for the allocation of funds, selection of projects and process for implementation.
The Clean Ohio Fund is a four year program consisting of four sub-programs. The Farmland Preservation Fund, administered by the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), is allocated $6.25 million annually for projects that aim to protect high quality farmland. The Farmland Preservation Advisory Board, appointed by the Governor, will review and select projects from across the state.
The Recreational Trails Fund is administered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) with a Governor appointed Clean Ohio Trail Advisory Board reviewing projects from across the state and selecting which will receive a piece of the $6.25 million pie.
Allocated $50 million annually, the Brownfield Revitalization Fund is the largest of the four Clean Ohio sub-programs. The Governor appointed a Clean Ohio Council to review and select projects from across the state. As the title suggests, these funds are used to clean up polluted lands and return them to productive use. The Ohio Department of Development, in a partnership with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, will direct the fund. For additional information about the Farmland, Recreational Trails, or the Brownfield Revitalization Fund visit: http://www.state.oh.us/cleanohiofund.
The last of the four Clean Ohio Fund programs is the Green Space Conservation Fund. The Conservation Fund allocation equals $37,500,000 annually with the Ohio Public Works Department administering the fund and the Natural Resource Assistance Councils reviewing and selecting projects. What is unique about the Conservation Fund in contrast to the three previously mentioned funds is that projects are selected at the local level. In other words, we do not have to compete with other communities throughout the state.
House Bill 3 directed the existing 19 Public Works Integrating Committees around the state to elect an 11 member Natural Resources Assistance Council (NRAC). Our District, district 6, encompasses Mahoning and Trumbull Counties and represents organizations with expertise in conservation, natural resource protection, parks and recreation, and environmental protection. This Council will receive and prioritize applications for funding based on a scoring methodology that has been established and adopted by them and approved by the Ohio Public Works Commission. Eastgate serves as the administrative representative to the NRAC.
Funding is allocated yearly to each district based on a formula contained in state law which considers the population of the geographical area that the District Integrating Committee covers.
Locally, funding will be allocated to eligible projects that include the purchase of open spaces and the cost of making them accessible to the public; and for the protection of stream corridors, the areas along a waterway that provide wildlife habitat and reduce erosion. Eligible projects may also include those that:
- Protect habitat for rare, threatened, or endangered species;
- Preserve high quality wetlands and other scarce natural areas;
- Preserve stream side forests, natural stream channels, functioning floodplains, and other natural features of Ohio's waterways.
In our district, special emphasis will be given to projects that: 1) have the highest degree of accountability to the intent of the law, or that have the greatest environmental benefit 2) demonstrate the applicant's ability to justify the need for the project 3) provide evidence that the applicant has utilized both planning and coordination in the project's development 4) demonstrate the applicant's ability to leverage funds 5) demonstrate the applicant's ability to complete and maintain the project.
Local governments, parks and joint recreation districts, conservancy districts, soil and water conservation districts, and non-profit organizations are eligible to receive funding for projects under the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund. Applicants must provide a 25 percent local match and local governments must be given the opportunity to endorse or oppose proposals that fall within their boundaries if they are not the applicant. Additionally, when a local government does seek funding for a project, a resolution of support from its legislative body must be submitted along with the application.
Additional information about the Green Space Conservation Fund can be found at http://www.pwc.state.oh.us We advise that potential applicants check this web site often to keep up-to-date with any changes to the program. Especially, pay close attention to the Advisories as they may apply to your project. Also, we encourage applicants to refer to the scoring methodology as they develop their application. If you would like to discuss the District 6 Clean Ohio Conservation Fund contact Rachel McCartney or Kim Mascarella of the Eastgate staff at (330) 779-3800 or by e-mail at rmccartney@eastgatecog.org or kmascarella@eastgatecog.org.
