Competition for grants intensifying as local funds fade - Other Community News - Ohioans for Responsible Rural Development

Lancaster Eagle-Gazette
Published January 29, 2012

By Jessica Alaimo

Local governments have been hit hard through the recession, and as a result have delayed construction projects, cut services and laid off public safety officials.

It's because of dwindling revenue sources. The state has cut aid. Tax collections are down, and voters aren't passing levies.

Now another funding source has become more difficult to come by: grants.

This means competition has become more fierce among governments, said Kent Scarrett, communications director for the Ohio Municipal League.

"There's not a lot of grant money out there; there hasn't been an increase in grants to offset (budget cuts)," Scarrett said. "Folks are not finding any assistance or any relief."

The number of grants and the amount of money coming from them have gone down substantially in the past couple of years, Lancaster police chief Dave Bailey said.

Three of the federal grant programs cut are the Community Development Block Grants, the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and the Community Oriented Policing Services program, according to the National League of Cities.

These grants allow cities and counties to provide a broad range of services, from providing affordable housing to revitalizing downtown areas to hiring new police officers.

Read the full story on the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette website.