OML UPDATE AT-A-GLANCE
 
Here are the top five things you need to know from this past week:
 
·        The League is excited to announce that we will be holding this year’s annual conference in-person once again at the Renaissance hotel in downtown Columbus. We have a great program this year and we are excited to offer our attendees an agenda packed with valuable information covering timely issues that Ohio's local leaders need to navigate these unprecedented times. In addition to sessions dealing exclusively with the myriad of unique challenges resulting from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, our agenda will offer many sessions addressing many other critical local concerns that local leaders are facing. Read more and find the registration link in the article below.
 
·        On Wednesday, September 15 at 10 a.m., the League will be hosting a free webinar entitled “Grant Opportunities for Municipalities from the State Biennial Budget” presented by the Ohio Department of Development. Register HERE and read more in the article below.
 
·        On Thursday, the Ohio Redistricting Commission accepted proposed redistricting maps drawn by Republican staff as its working document over the objections of Democrats. You can find the House map HERE and the Senate map HERE. The commission will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, September 15, the constitutional deadline for passing a redistricting plan.
 
·        This week, the Ohio Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a lawsuit filed against the city of Cleveland by drivers that were leasing or renting cars, or operating vehicles owned by their employers, and received and paid speeding or red-light traffic tickets. The Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals decision determined that these drivers are not liable for the tickets. The lawsuit alleges that Cleveland must refund drivers $4.1 million in tickets paid between 2005 and 2009, in addition to $1.8 million in interest. We will keep our members apprised as this case progresses.
 
·         On September 28 at 2 p.m., the Ohio Innovation and Technology Association (OITA) and the Ohio County/City Technology Association (OCITA) is holding a free virtual event that will focus on how local governments can do more for citizens with fewer resources through advancements in technology. This event will feature speakers from the League, Google Cloud, the County Commissioners Association of Ohio and the County Auditors’ Association of Ohio. You can find the flyer HERE more information to follow.
  
 
 
OML HOSTING FREE WEBINAR ON NEW STATE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

On Wednesday, September 15 at 10 a.m., the Ohio Municipal League will be hosting a free webinar entitled “Grant Opportunities for Municipalities from the State Biennial Budget” presented by Megan Meadows, Assistant Chief of the Community Services Division of the Ohio Department of Development.

The webinar will provide information on new grant opportunities provided by HB 110, the state operating budget bill, that are currently available to Ohio cities and villages, and will include an opportunity for the presenter to answer members’ questions. Information will be provided on how to access and use grant opportunities, which include $10 million in funding for local law enforcement through the Ohio Body-Worn Camera Grant Program, $262 million in brownfield remediation funding through the Ohio Brownfield Fund and $250 million in funding through the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Program.
Additional information and register access can be found HERE.


 
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR OML’S ANNUAL CONFERENCE

We are excited to hold this year’s conference in-person once again at the Renaissance hotel in downtown Columbus. To ensure the safety of all of our attendees, we will be requiring all unvaccinated guests to wear a mask.

We have a great program this year and we are excited to offer our attendees an agenda packed with valuable information covering timely issues that Ohio's local leaders need to navigate these unprecedented times.

In addition to sessions dealing exclusively with the myriad of unique challenges resulting from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, our agenda will offer many sessions addressing many other critical local concerns that local leaders are facing.

Attendees will hear from experts who will address important pandemic-related issues such as changes to the municipal income tax, federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and teleworking.
The program will cover many other critical local concerns, such as affordable housing, cyber security, grants for brownfield demolition and police body cameras, racial equity, broadband and the 2020 Census.

Additionally, as members have found our past roundtable discussions an important opportunity to network with local officials from communities that share similar demographics, we will be offering city and village roundtables to ensure participants have the chance to build critical relationships, share information and exchange best practices.

More details including the tentative agenda and the link to register are HERE. Make sure you register soon. We look forward to having you join us!
 
 
BODY CAMERA AND BROADBAND EXPANSION GRANT APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN


Body-Worn Camera Grant Program:
Applications are open for $5 million in grant funding for local law enforcement agencies to invest in body camera equipment and associated expenses. You can apply HERE.

The Ohio Body-Worn Camera Grant Program was created in HB 110, the state operating budget. The program will help local law enforcement agencies with costs related to body cameras such as camera equipment, video storage, public record management personnel and more. The Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) administers the grant program.

The program will prioritize funding for agencies that have not yet established a body-worn camera program; however, agencies with existing programs are also encouraged to apply.

The funding will be flexible in order to meet agencies’ individual needs and is contingent on adherence to the Ohio Community-Police Collaborative's body-worn camera standard, which you can find HERE. Agencies not yet certified in the standard will have a pre-award condition requiring certification prior to the grant funds being released.

Law enforcement agencies applying for the grant must also be in compliance with crime statistics reporting, using the Ohio Incident-Based Reporting System (OIBRS) or the FBI’s NIBRS Collection Application (NCA), per Ohio Revised Code Section 5502.62(C)(6), which you can find HERE.

Applications will be accepted until October 8 at 5 p.m.

A total of $10 million has been allocated to the Ohio Body-Worn Camera Grant Program in the state operating budget. The remainder of the grant funds will be made available next year.

Broadband Expansion Grant Program:

Additionally, the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant program has begun accepting applications online. You can find the application site HERE.

The program will provide $250 million in grants to internet service providers for the construction of broadband projects that improve high-speed internet access in unserved and underserved areas of Ohio. Projects will provide service access of at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload to residents in areas that do not have a provider that can supply service at this speed.

The Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant program was established in HB 2 and was funded by HB 110, the state operating budget.

Internet Service Providers can apply online from Sept. 6, 2021, until Nov. 8, 2021, at 5 p.m. Applications will be reviewed by the Ohio Department of Development and BroadbandOhio. Eligible applications will be sent to the Ohio Broadband Expansion Program Authority for approval and funding.

More information on the new Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant is available on the Broadband.Ohio.Gov website.

OML Grant Database:

The League is in the process of putting together a database that will give our members information on and access to the different grant opportunities recently passed in HB 110, the state operating budget bill. We will keep our members apprised when this database is live.
 
 
 
OHIO EPA TO HOLD FREE VIRTUAL SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE
 
From September 21-23, the Ohio EPA will be holding a free virtual Sustainability Conference. Attendees will hear from Ohio's community leaders on how they have implemented sustainability programs at the local level. Many businesses, communities, academia, and other organizations are moving beyond compliance and incorporating sustainable environmental practices into their daily operations. This conference will show attendees how to encourage, implement and celebrate sustainable practices to strengthen Ohio’s diverse organizations. Learn more and register HERE.
 
 
 
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR MUNICIPAL ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION OF OHIO
 
The League is inviting your municipal engineer to become an inaugural member of the Municipal Engineers Association of Ohio. As an inaugural member, your municipality will help us shape the mission, goals, and priorities of this important organization. Membership will allow you to engage your fellow municipal engineers, understand and impact state legislation, programs and policies, receive professional development. Our inaugural meeting is October 7 in Columbus, coinciding with the OML Annual Conference. Learn more about membership HERE and register for conference HERE.