Rep. Brown announces $300 million to help colleges, universities, and K-12 schools prepare for fall semester amid COVID-19

Additional funds approved to assist local, state response efforts and support small business loan program

July 14, 2020

House Assistant Minority Whip Richard D. Brown (D-Canal Winchester) announced Monday the state Controlling Board approved another round of federal funding to support Ohio’s efforts to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, including $300 million in federal funding to offset Ohio’s K-12 schools and colleges and university’s costs of keeping students and staff safe in the fall.

“I am proud to announce these investments in Ohio’s schools. The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating for the budgets of our local districts, and I am grateful that my colleagues in Congress and on the Controlling Board allocated these funds to help aid with that budget shortfall,” said Rep. Brown. “It is of vital importance that we continue to invest in our state’s future by helping to ensure that districts have additional funds to weather this pandemic.”

The Controlling Board Monday approved the use of federal CARES Act funding for the following state agencies to support their efforts in controlling the COVID-19 outbreak in Ohio:

$200 million to the Ohio Department of Higher Education;
$100 million to the Department of Education;
$169.6 million to the Ohio Department of Medicaid;
$36.8 million to Ohio’s local health departments;
$63.5 million to the Ohio Department of Health;
$15.7 million to the Department of Public Safety;
$3 million to the Department of Natural Resources

Additional federal funds approved by the Controlling Board includes $62 million for Ohio hospitals serving rural and underserved communities, $22.5 million to behavioral health providers, $10 million to fund a direct economic loan program to assist small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and $517,000 for the Ohio Arts Council to support community art and education in communities around Ohio.