Your monthly news & updates |
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Absentee ballots available, early voting soon |
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Or you may participate in early voting starting Oct. 6 at the Clermont County Board of Elections office at: 76 S. Riverside Drive, Batavia, Ohio 45103. See a full list of dates and times for early voting.
And polling places will be open 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3.
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County offers grants for small businesses |
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Small businesses in Clermont County can apply for Coronavirus Relief Act (CARES Act) grants of $2,500 (for 1-10 employees) or $5,000 (for 11-50 employees) starting 4:30 p.m. Aug. 31. The funds are available on a first-come, first-serve basis to businesses active since at least January 2019, who demonstrate the impact of the pandemic on their operations.
To apply, visit this link for an online application, or for a form to download, print and fax to 513-732-7366, or personally deliver to the Clermont County Department of Community & Economic Development, 3rd Floor, 101 E. Main St., Batavia, OH 45103.
“Based on interest already expressed, we believe this will be a popular program,” said Michael McNamara, the department’s director.
The Board of County Commissioners approved the program at their Aug. 19 meeting. Clermont County has about $200,000 available to distribute. The Economic Development Department hopes this is a first round of funding with future funding used in additional rounds.
“We hope these funds will help small businesses during these extremely challenging times,” said David Painter, president of the Board of County Commissioners. “Small businesses are vital to our economy, providing much-needed services and employment to many.”
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Don't delay! Contribute to the time capsule |
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There’s still time, Clermont County residents!
Help preserve history by contributing your thoughts in writing and other remembrances to a COVID-19 pandemic time capsule. The project is co-sponsored by the Board of County Commissioners and the Coalition for a Drug-Free Clermont County.
The time capsule will be placed in Municipal Court during a ceremony later this year. Plans call for opening the capsule in 10 years.
Help preserve this time in history by submitting photos and write-ups via email to Commissioner Claire Corcoran at ccorcoran@clermontcountyohio.gov, Mary Makley Wolff at mwolff@gcbhs.com or Mike Boehmer at mboehmer@clermontcountyohio.gov. Clermont County residents also may mail items to COVID-19 Time Capsule, 101 East Main St. 3rd Floor, Batavia, OH 45103.
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Grants, loans available for flood victims |
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Federal grants are available to counties cities, townships and villages to mitigate hazards and flood damage, according to the Clermont County Emergency Management Agency. Local jurisdictions must submit a pre-application form by Sept. 11.
In addition, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced that Working Capital Disaster Loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and private nonprofit organizations affected by excessive moisture, April 8-May 29, 2020. Applications will be accepted through April 12, 2021.
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Brighten the holidays for youngsters in care of Children's Protective |
Are you looking to give back to the community? Perhaps you belong to an organization wanting to make a difference?
Every year Clermont County Children’s Protective Services strives to ensure that children in care have a wonderful Christmas. Last year, Christmas Day was made brighter with gifts for about 325 children due to wonderful sponsors like you.
Please consider sponsoring one or more of the children. You may also sponsor a family(s). Children's Protective accepts sponsors of all types: individuals, company sponsors, groups, and organizations, etc. There is no limit on the number of gifts or cost; however, if there is a sibling group being sponsored, Children's Protective will indicate that so the sponsors can try and keep the gifts even in number.
HOW TO SPONSOR A CHILD: If you are interested in sponsoring a child or family, please e-mail Sanna Gast at: sanna.gast@jfs.ohio.gov. Ages children available for sponsorship range from birth to 18 years of age. A number is assigned to each child (only first names are given due to confidentiality) and their ages, sizes, what they want or need. After the list of sponsors is developed, the child and/or family wishes will be e-mailed to you so you can shop for the gifts.
GETTING THE GIFTS TO THE CHILDREN
In order to facilitate this, please wrap each gift and attach the child’s name along with the ID number.
Gifts need to be delivered to the agency by the due date indicated on the sponsor sheet.
If you need pick up, please inform the coordinator via email so that arrangements can be made.
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Vote for two members of Soil & Water Conservation District board |
If you are a resident or landowner in Clermont County, the Clermont Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) invites you to participate in the election for its Board of Supervisors.
The board guides the district and its staff in efforts to implement a number of programs that affect Clermont County residents. This includes a variety of agricultural conservation and urban stormwater management programs that help improve the quality of our streams, rivers and lakes. The district also provides assistance to landowners with drainage or erosion problems.
Two people will be elected to the board for three-year terms commencing Jan. 1. Candidates for the election include Dave Anspach, Scott Jennings and Tim Rose. Candidate biographies may be viewed at www.clermontswcd.org.
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Library resumes regular hours
The Clermont County Public Library has returned to normal hours: 12 p.m.-8 p.m., Monday and Tuesday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Library staff members continue to clean and sanitize high-touch surfaces every two hours each day and again by a professional cleaning crew at night. Employees wear facial masks, wash their hands regularly, maintain a safe social distance, and stay home if they are sick.
Patrons are asked to wear masks, keep a safe social distance, and stay home if they are sick.
Patrons also can use the contact-free Curbside Pickup service. Just call the local branch to tell an employee what is needed and set a pickup time. They will assemble the items and set them on a table outside the branch to give patrons contact-free service. Patrons can pick up holds, select materials from the catalog, and have up to 10 pages of blank tax forms or local governmental documents printed.
Returns are quarantined at least five days. Items returned will not be removed from the patron’s library card until after the quarantine period.
Staff members are creating online programs that can be seen on Facebook and YouTube since in-person programming is not available right now. Some of the most popular online programs have been a history of Milford, a look at the Cincinnati Reds over the years, and storytimes for the younger patrons.
Please visit the library’s social media pages and website for more information.
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Authorities see increase in meth |
Clermont County law enforcement and treatment specialists are noticing an uptick in methamphetamine (or meth) after a slowdown during the spring shutdown of the economy.
The Clermont County Opiate Task Force touched base on drug and alcohol trends in the era of COVID-19 in an Aug. 13 meeting.
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Sign up now for annual suicide prevention candlelight vigil on Sept. 10 |
The Clermont County Suicide Prevention Coalition and the Ohio Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will host the 19th annual candlelight vigil to remember, honor and cherish the lives of those individuals lost to suicide over the past year. Over 5 million living Americans have lost a close family member or friend to suicide. Anyone whose life has been touched by suicide is welcome to attend and pay tribute to their loved one through a ceremonial lighting of candles. This year the event will be virtual via Zoom.
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 10
Where (register in advance):
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Time: 7 p.m.
Contact: To send names to have a candle lit:
Lee Ann Watson: lwatson@ccmhrb.org
Michael Cotrell: cotrellm@gmail.com
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Clermont DD celebrates ADA's 30th anniversary |
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July 26 marked the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To celebrate, the Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities held a Honk and Wave at Union Township Veterans Memorial Park on July 24, to raise awareness about this important piece of legislation.
Several Honk and Wave events were held the week of July 20-25 throughout Hamilton and Clermont counties. Additional proceedings were planned by Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services as part of an awareness campaign called “Disability Pride 2020.” These activities included a proclamation from Cincinnati City Council, a virtual panel discussion that included three prominent employers and disability experts, and a virtual award ceremony to honor local partners who have been champions of accessibility and inclusion over the years. The Honk and Waves were the finishing touch for this month of awareness.
Members of the Clermont DD self advocacy group Turn Up Clermont shook pom poms and banners in extreme sun and heat to wave to lunch traffic on Glen Este-Withamsville Road. Those who participated were overwhelmed at the honks and waves they received during the event.
“It was a great way to spread disability pride,” said Austin Porter, a self advocate from Batavia and a member of Turn Up Clermont. “It showed everyone that people with disabilities have voices and that they want to be heard.”
To view other Disability Pride events throughout the Cincinnati area, search #CincyADA30 on social media. If you are interested in learning more about Clermont DD or the ADA law, visit clermontdd.org. |
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Clermont County | 101 E. Main Street | Batavia OH 45103 | 513.732.7300 |
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