COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) released official program guidelines for the $85 million Appalachian Community Innovation Centers program Monday.

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) released official program guidelines for the $85 million Appalachian Community Innovation Centers program Monday

  • K-12 school districts, joint vocational school districts, regional councils of government or other political subdivisions located in the 32 Ohio Appalachian counties may apply for funding, according to a press release from the Governor's office

  • The application period for the Appalachian Community Innovation Centers Program starts Monday and ends March 21

K-12 school districts, joint vocational school districts, regional councils of government or other political subdivisions located in the 32 Ohio Appalachian counties may apply for funding, according to a press release from the Governor's office.

Eligible projects include new construction, renovation or expansion of existing facilities that support public education, deliver physical or behavioral health care services onsite to students and the public and provide community access to job-related programming. To qualify, projects must demonstrate a significant impact in all three areas, according to the release.

"Schools are already centers of the community in Appalachia. With the support of the General Assembly, we can use federal funds made available from the American Rescue Plan Act Capital Projects Fund to promote student engagement while increasing the availability of resources for adults," said Gov. DeWine.

"Ohio’s Appalachian communities often feel overlooked, and they have a real need for these dollars as they work to provide educational, health care and job opportunities in centralized locations," State Senate President Matt Huffman, R-Lima, said in the release. "These are real improvements that people will see every day and will make a difference for decades to come."

According to the release, the program is administered by the OFCC.

“OFCC is already working with local communities on school construction projects,” said Ohio Budget and Management Director and OFCC Chair Kimberly Murnieks. “The partnership between education, health care, and jobs will provide ready access to the type of services that strengthen families and communities in the Appalachian region.”

The application period for the Appalachian Community Innovation Centers Program starts Monday and ends March 21. OFCC staff will host a pre-application webinar on Feb. 12, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. to present the guidelines in detail and allow interested parties to ask questions.

For more information, visit the program website here.