Appalachian Community Innovation Centers Grants

appalachia@ofcc.ohio.gov

This program provides funding for the construction of multi-purpose community centers within the Appalachian region that will provide a combined access point to public education, community health services, and workforce development.

Projects must include the following components:

• Provide K-12 public education
• Partner with a healthcare provider to deliver either physical and/or behavioral health services onsite to students and the public
• Provide community access to job related programming and resources, such as adult education, workforce training, career counseling services, and support a return-to-work site with internet access to provide work search capabilities

Additional project requirements include:

• Address critical access needs of underserved and/or disadvantaged communities where disproportionate access to work, education and health resources was apparent during the pandemic
• Partner with a health care provider or providers to deliver affordable health services to students and the public
• Incorporate a workforce partner, preferably the local Job and Family Services, library, or Ohio Means Jobs center to provide career services to students and the general public
• Provide usable meeting space for the community to perform work search, work readiness, training, or other supports for adults outside of school hours
• Develop and implement a community engagement and stakeholder communication plan to ensure full transparency and commitment from the community and key stakeholders

Eligible applicants are K-12 school districts, joint vocational school districts, nonprofits, regional councils of government, or other political subdivisions located in and serving Ohio Appalachian counties.

Applicants may request funds to cover the costs of the construction project. Local funds will be required for any project costs that exceed the grant amount.

Projects must be completed by December 31, 2026, and applicants must sustain the facility with their own sources of funds for no less than 5 years after project completion.

Links to additional guidance, application instructions, and the online application are available on the program website.