State of Ohio Federal Stimulus Initiative FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Show all answers  |  Hide all answers

Note: to print all questions and answers in their entirety, please click "show all answers" above before printing.

Recovery.Ohio.gov Proposal Form

How can I get technical support with the Recovery.Ohio.gov website and forms?

For technical support, please send email to .

Is there a deadline to fill out a project "Submit a Proposal" form through this site?

For transportation projects funded by the Federal Highway Administration, the deadline for submission to this website has passed, and on Friday, March 6, 2009, several Environmental Protection Agency deadlines will pass as well. See the “What’s New” page for the press release on this topic. As soon as other program deadlines are known, they will be posted. Please submit your proposal as quickly as possible in order to avoid problems with deadlines. Also please note that submissions to this site are to come from organizations only.

How do I know if my proposal has actually been submitted?

After you have sent your submission, you will see a confirmation page and then receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive the confirmation email, please check your spam filter. If you do not receive the confirmation page or the confirmation email, please contact .

I would like to correct a project submission I sent earlier. Is this possible?

It is not possible to edit a previously submitted project submission. However, if you would like to correct or update your proposal, you may submit a new form. Please make note on the form that this is an updated version of a previous submission.

I sent a project submission and received a confirmation email. But my project doesn't show up on the list of submissions. Are my submissions lost?

There is a delay from the time you submit a project until it shows up on the list of submissions. This is between 1 and 3 days, depending upon the volume of submissions. If you don't see your project submission on the list after 3 days, please contact .

When will people be notified that their submission was approved or declined for funding?

The project submission through Recovery.Ohio.Gov is not an application for funding. It is an expression of interest in receiving funding and is forwarded to the appropriate state agency for review. If the agency determines that you may meet eligibility requirements, the agency will contact you to request additional information, provide you with an application for funding or refer you to an alternative funding source.

I want to submit an infrastructure project for consideration, but that category is no longer on the web site. Am I no longer able to submit a proposal for infrastructure projects?

The infrastructure dollars in the Recovery Act are dedicated primarily to highways, bridges and other modes of transportation, as well as water and sewer construction and repair. Deadlines for submitting these projects have already passed.

With regard to general construction funds in the Recovery Act, no funding is provided specifically for the building of buildings, parking garages or other structures. If you have construction-related projects, you may want to consider several other possible sources of funding in the Recovery Act:

From the State of Ohio:

State of Ohio Energy Program: This program provides grants to fund energy efficiency and renewable energy programs including energy efficiency retrofits of buildings and industrial facilities. Expressions of interest for these funds can still be submitted through recovery.ohio.gov.

From Local Entities (e.g. local governments):

Community Development Block Grants (CDBG): Some communities will have community development block grants to support local economic development and infrastructure activities. CDBG funds will continue to be distributed at the local level in a process involving local organizations. Check with your local officials to inquire about this type of funding.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants: Local governments may compete for and receive grants from the federal government to reduce total energy use and improve energy efficiency. Check with your local officials to inquire about this type of funding.

From the Federal Government Directly:

Economic Development Assistance: This program provides grants and technical assistance to non-profit firms and political subdivisions for a variety of purposes including for economic development facilities. It is targeted primarily to distressed communities and FEMA declared disaster counties. Check the federal websites, www.recovery.gov or www.grants.gov for further information.

Firehouse Construction: This program provides Assistance to Firefighter grants for modifying, upgrading or constructing non-federal fire stations. Visit federal websites for more information including www.grants.gov or www.dhs.gov/recovery for further information.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

How will the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (which provides the federal stimulus funds) impact Ohio's economy?

Ohio expects to receive at least $8.2 billion in federal stimulus monies. Ohio public, private and non-profit organizations will have the opportunity to compete for more. These resources will save or create more than 130,000 jobs for Ohioans and provide tax cuts to working families, while also helping to protect essential state services that Ohioans rely upon every day. The stimulus resources will enable Ohio to make targeted investments in the critical sectors of our economy that will create and grow jobs, by:

• Producing Clean and Efficient Energy in Ohio
• Investing in Science and Technology to Advance Ohio's Economy
• Modernizing our Roads, Bridges, Transit and Waterways
• Developing a 21st Century Education System
• Implementing Tax Cuts that Make Work Pay and Create Jobs
• Lowering Healthcare Costs
• Providing Assistance to Ohio Workers Hurt by the Economic Downturn
• Saving Public Sector Jobs and Protecting Vital Services for Ohioans

Who will receive funding in Ohio?

Funds from the federal stimulus package will come into Ohio through varying programs, with a wide range of different eligible recipients. Some funds will be provided to the State of Ohio and then awarded to public, private or non-profit entities to perform funded work. Other funds will go directly to local governments, schools, and for profit and non-profit entities. Administration officials continue to analyze the federal bill to identify all funding opportunities.

Some funds have been allocated to the State of Ohio via a formula and will be overseen and distributed by the state. Other formula funds have been allocated, for oversight and distribution, to cities, metropolitan planning organizations, community action agencies and other entities.

In addition, a range of Ohio entities will have the opportunity to compete for other funds. More information will be provided about funds for which entities can compete as it becomes available.

Federal funds will be distributed to state and local governments, non-profit agencies, and other organizations, not directly to individuals. Those entities interested in applying for funds should fill out a "Submit a Proposal" form on this site.

There are funds the bill makes available to help individuals, like unemployment compensation funds or funds to support food assistance programs. These funds will be administered by state and local agencies, not through this website.

If you are an individual seeking direct assistance provided for individuals under the bill, please contact the government agency that oversees the specific program – such as the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services for information regarding the food assistance program and unemployment compensation benefits. If you aren't sure which agency to call, check with the Ohio Benefits Bank at 1-800-648-1176.

How do I know if my project is eligible for federal stimulus funds?

Go to the link labeled "submit your proposal" on the front page of this website. On the form that appears, review the information at the top and scroll down to the "Federal Stimulus Program" field. Click on the drop-down box that says "Please select a program." See if there's a topic area relevant to your project. If so, click on that, and look at the funding streams in the "Select a sub-program" box. If you see a program description which appears to be relevant to your project, fill out the full "Submit a Proposal" form.

If your project appears to be eligible for funding, state officials will contact you with additional information about how to apply.

You are also encouraged to read the portions of the bill which may be relevant to your project. A link to the full bill is available under the "more information" tab on the front page of the website.

You can also sign-up on the front page of this website to be notified when the website has been updated and/or to receive other email updates. Additional information will be posted on the website as it becomes available.

How will taxpayers ensure that funds are spent wisely and efficiently?

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes unprecedented requirements for accountability and transparency. Taxpayers will be able to track the funds both at a national and state level and will be able to see to whom funds were awarded and the amount of the awards. In addition, both federal and state governments will have significant monitoring, reporting, and risk management responsibilities to protect against fraud, mismanagement, and waste.

What are the timelines for funds to be spent in Ohio?

This will vary significantly depending upon the program. Congress intended the funds to be spent quickly to maximize their economic stimulative effect. The federal agencies administering the funds are establishing deadlines and clarifying program criteria. This information will be posted on this website as it becomes available.

Who is Ohio's "infrastructure czar" and why was he chosen?

The infrastructure czar is Ronald B. Richard, president and CEO of the Cleveland Foundation. He was appointed to the temporary, part-time, volunteer position by the governor. While serving in this role, he will continue to lead the Cleveland Foundation.

Mr. Richard was chosen because of his broad background serving in senior positions in the public and private sectors. He is a former U.S. diplomat as well as former president of R&D for Panasonic in North America. Today, as head of one of the nation's largest community foundations, he oversees an organization known for being a leader in addressing vital community issues and in investing in economic development. Through his foundation work, Mr. Richard has experience establishing and managing processes that ensure that the distribution of funds meet "donor intent". Here, the donors are the president and Congress, and their goals are to create and retain jobs, jump-start a stalled economy, and avoid another Great Depression by circulating this money quickly and effectively in our local and state economies.

Individuals

Please see the Recovery.Ohio.gov Individuals Page for Answers to Frequently Asked Questions related to Individual Help