Applications for the first round of funding from Ohio’s share of the National Opioid Settlements has officially closed. The OneOhio Recovery Foundation’s 2024 Regional Grant Request for Proposals (RFP) closed on May 3, 2024. Organizations interested in applying for regional funding throughout the state had approximately a month to get their applications submitted as the application period began on April 2 and ended on May 3. At the June 12 OneOhio Recovery Foundation Board meeting details about the applicants and their applications were shared.
The Foundation received 1,442 applications from 777 different organizations across the state.
The Foundation received 1,442 applications from 777 different organizations across the state. While the proposals ranged in size 392—approximately 27%—were for $100,000 or less. Multi-region collaboration appeared to be a common theme for the applicants as 38% of applications were for multi-region proposals. Thisdata was updated on June 10 and is the most up-to-date information provided by the Foundation.
Applications received
The top three regions for applications were Regions 1 (Franklin County), 14(Butler, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Greene, Madison, and Warren Counties), and 3(Cuyahoga County) receiving 164, 146, and 123 applications respectively. The three regions receiving the fewest number of applications were Regions 4 (Lucas County), 12 (Coshocton, Guernsey, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, and Washington Counties) and 16 (Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, VanWert, and Williams Counties) receiving 41, 39, and 26 applications respectively. The table below shows all regions and how many applications they received.
Requested Funding
While not surprising, there are similarities between the top three regions for applications received and total funding requested. Region 1 (Franklin County) received the most requested funding at $92.2 million, which is 15.9 times more than their regional budget of $5.8 million. Region 14 (Butler, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Greene, Madison, and Warren Counties) received $90.6 million in requested funding or 12.6 times more than their regional budget of $7.2 million. Region 3 (Hamilton County) received total requested funding 10.9 times more than their regional budget of $4.8million coming in at $52.2 million.
While the differences between applications and requested funding, 138 and $87.5 million, between Region 1 (Franklin County) and Region 16 (Defiance,Fulton, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, & Williams Counties) appears to be significant, it is not worth focusing on as it misses the point. Coming out of the first RFP process, every region, including the regions with the smallest budgets, received funding requests multiple times above their allotment. This clearly shows that all regions will have a competitive process ahead.
The degree of competition present in the first round of funding not only shows immense interest from organizations to get these dollars into communities to begin saving lives, but also shows that the outreach to increase awareness done by the Foundation and its board members, local regional boards, and advocates has worked. Organizations applied and this money can finally begin moving forward.
Regional Boards will now begin reviewing applications and making their recommendations.
With the application process closed it will now move into the third step of the funding process, Regional Review. Regional Boards will now begin reviewing applications and making their recommendations. As the Regions embark on this process, six of which have already done so, The Center for Community Solutions encourages Regions to continue to engage in a thoughtful process when making recommendations with this one-time funding. Community Solutions will continue to monitor Regional board meetings and the Foundation’s progress in addressing the opioid epidemic as the Foundation’s work continues.
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