Rep. Jarrells Announces Architecture and Engineering Improvements to Rhodes and Riffe Towers, $5.2 Million for Developing Online Grants-Management Platform

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) today announced that the Controlling Board allocated $625K for architecture and engineering improvements to the Rhodes and Riffe Towers located in downtown Columbus. Both projects will contract services from the local architecture firm, Meacham & Apel, to bring space floor improvement to the Rhodes Tower and relocate the Auditor of State’s office to Riffe Tower.

“These funds not only provide opportunity for a local business and its employees but improves the efficiency and productivity of government,” said Rep. Jarrells. “As the Auditor of State’s office is dedicated to oversight and accountability in state government, it is important we enhance communication and collaboration at all levels.”

The Controlling Board also approved $5.2M in funds for the Ohio Department of Health to begin developing a web-based grants management system. The existing system, over 15-years old, currently cannot award funding in a timely manner or access real-time information to assess progress and funding.

“As the pandemic exacerbated problems observed in healthcare, it’s important that we safeguard the industry from repeating similar shortfalls we have seen in the past,” said Rep. Jarrells.

The Controlling Board approved other notable items:

• $1M in funding over next two years for purchasing reagents and supplies for wastewater testing at State’s Public Health Laboratory.
• $811K in funding over next two years for purchasing Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) test kits and instrument validation for the State's Public Health Laboratory.
• $252K in funding to provide at-home sample collection and laboratory testing for syphilis, HIV, and Hepatitis C (HCV).