Callender, State Controlling Board Approve Additional COVID-19 Relief Funding

State Rep. Jamie Callender (R-Concord) and the Ohio State Controlling Board on Monday approved additional federal funding to help protect Ohioans as the state reopens businesses. Funding to assist law enforcement in addressing the medical needs of inmates was also included in the proposal. 

“As our state begins to reopen the economy, these appropriations will help to ensure public safety needs are met,” said Callender. “The items passed today will promote the safety of employees and businesses as Ohio takes the right steps to properly reopen.”

Callender is referring to the approved measure request by the Office of Budget and Management (OBM) of $12.4 million to provide epidemiological support in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as employees return to work. The request states the allocation will allow the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) to expand critical staff of epidemiology to work at the local levels. This will help meet the nationally recommended level of 1,750 full-time employees.

“As we reopen, this funding will help us detect infection increases and allow us to focus the necessary resources to combat any hot spots.”

The $12.4 million approved request will be distributed to Ohio’s 113 local health departments to support the epidemiological support capacity for local communities in May and June.

Additionally, another approved measure of $15.9 million will allow the Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) for law enforcement and medical personnel. The measure will allow them to address the needs of inmates in state and local prisons, jails, and detention centers.

Also, $52.5 million were approved for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to support the unemployment insurance administrative program. These funds are targeted towards helping address the difficulties experienced by Ohioans when attempting to commutate with JFS and to help the department keep up with the volume of claims.

“In talking to constituents, dealing with the unemployment system has been a bit like picking up a porcupine.  It looks easy but once you grab it, things don’t work out so well,” Callender said.

Other important items passed during the meeting included:

• $6.7 million for Ohio Small Business Administration Grants, providing current SBA-funded Small Business Development Centers with resources in providing education, training, and business advising to small businesses that have experienced supply chain disruptions, staffing challenges, a decrease in gross receipts or customers, or a closure as a result of COVID-19 – a portion of this will go to Lake County’s Lakeland Community College in Kirtland.

• $20.9 million to ODH from federal funds to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, combat substance use disorders, drug overdose and other activities.

To see more information on approved items from the May 11 meeting, please visit https://ecb.ohio.gov/Public/default.aspx.