WEEK IN REVIEW
Friday, September 3, 2021

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Week in Review

For the week ending September 3, 2021

Governor DeWine announces a new initiative offering state assistance to veteran-serving organizations in the state at a press conference in the Riffe Center..

On Monday,?Ohio Governor Mike DeWine reinforced Ohio's support of its military members and veterans and announced a new initiative to offer state assistance to veteran-serving organizations in Ohio.?

As part of the new effort led by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Ohio Department of Veteran Services, the state will work with local veteran organizations to identify gaps in mental health services and offer assistance.

"Ohio?s strong commitment to our men, women, and families in uniform has a long history, and we are building on that foundation today to make resources more visible and accessible," said Governor DeWine. "Providing for the health and well-being of veterans is one way Ohio shows its gratitude."

An initial investment of a total of $200,000 in grant funding will be provided to eight veteran service agencies to enhance or expand their services. Investments include funding for a new veteran peer support liaison at the Greene County Veterans Services Office and funding to support a recurring series of mobile pop-up events that will offer on-site health, dental, and legal assistance?for Franklin County veterans.

The Ohio National Guard's mental health support website,?OhioCares.Ohio.gov, is also now updated to carry information applicable to all active-duty military personnel, reservists, Guard members, veterans of all military branches, and their families. The site had previously catered its information only to members of the Ohio National Guard.

Ohioans who are in crisis or need to talk to someone should call the Ohio CareLine at 1-800-720-9616 or the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255.?

"To our past and present military men and women,?on behalf of the State of Ohio, thank you for your service to our nation," said Governor DeWine.?

Also on Monday,?Governor DeWine announced that the state is awarding 27 institutions of higher education a total of $5 million in grants to fund security enhancements on their campuses.

?The commitment to school safety is one that I take seriously,? said Governor DeWine. ?By awarding these grants, campuses can go beyond identifying areas that need to be improved by developing and executing plans that promote the wellbeing of staff and students.?

The awarded funds are part of the 2021 Campus Safety Grant Program funded as part of Senate Bill 310 of the 133rd General Assembly. The Ohio School Safety Center reviewed the campus safety grant applications in consultation with the Ohio Department of Higher Education, and the Ohio Controlling Board approved the release of the funds on Monday.?

Lt. Governor Jon Husted visits the Findlay Rotary Club to talk about the state's economy.

On Tuesday, Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted gave remarks?at the Findlay Rotary Club meeting and provided an update on companies moving their operations from the coasts to Ohio.

Lt. Governor Husted speaks with middle school students in Tiffin.

Lt. Governor Husted also stopped by Tiffin Middle School to talk to students about career pathways and in-demand jobs.?

Governor DeWine signed?Senate Bill 30?in June designating, Tuesday, as Ohio Overdose Awareness Day to raise public awareness and to remember the lives lost to the epidemic.

Unintentional drug overdose is one of the leading causes of injury death in Ohio, surpassing motor vehicle crashes. According to RecoveryOhio, in January through November of 2020, there were 4,579 unintentional drug overdose deaths reported. This is a 24% increase over 2019.?Ohio?s medical and first responder communities attribute the increase primarily to fentanyl, a highly addictive and dangerous opioid.

Earlier this year, state officials approved $2.5 million to rapidly deploy 60,000 doses of naloxone to 23 counties struggling with a high burden of overdoses. Governor DeWine, RecoveryOhio, ODH, and OhioMHAS are encouraging all Ohioans to consider carrying naloxone to help save a life.?

?Naloxone has proven to save lives. By getting it into the hands of communities and groups across the state in areas that are experiencing the most overdoses and deaths, we are putting this life-saving opportunity where it is needed most,? said Governor DeWine.

To learn more about Ohio?s work to address opioid addiction, visit?recoveryohio.gov. If you or a loved one need help for a substance use disorder, please call the Ohio CareLine?at 1-800-720-9616 for free, confidential assistance from a trained counselor.

Governor DeWine speaks alongside Lt. Governor Husted after a tour of Dick Masheter Ford.

On Wednesday, Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted joined Ohio Chamber of Commerce CEO Steve Stivers for a tour of Dick Masheter Ford in Columbus where they met with owners and employees.

Following the tour, Governor DeWine held a media availability where he announced?that the State of Ohio has initiated the repayment of nearly $1.5 billion borrowed from the federal government to pay unemployment benefits to eligible Ohioans?during the pandemic. This repayment will prevent future tax increases for Ohio employers that would have been needed to pay off the loan.?? Repayment of the loan?to?the United States Treasury is being paid?in its entirety?with funds from the American Rescue Plan Act?(ARPA).?Had the?$1,471,765,771.37?loan not been fully paid by?Sept. 6, the federal government would have charged 2.2777% interest on the debt, which would have?led to increases in unemployment taxes for?Ohio employers.? ?I'm not willing?to let?our employers bear?the unemployment debt burden caused by the pandemic. By?repaying this loan in full, we?ensure that Ohio businesses?won't see?increases in their federal unemployment payroll taxes,? said Governor DeWine.??Without this added tax burden, our employers can invest?more?money into their businesses and?hire more staff.?I?m?grateful?that?we were able to work with the legislature to use this?federal recovery money to avoid further hardship for Ohio?s businesses.??

On Thursday,?Lt. Governor Husted visited MAGNET in Cleveland for a roundtable discussion with Industry Sector Partnership grantees from Northeast Ohio.

During the roundtable, Lt. Governor Husted announced the second round of the Industry Sector Partnership Grant opportunity. This program supports partnerships that help bring Ohioans into the workforce pipeline while meeting the needs of job creators and the local economy.?

A new application period opened with just over $2.45 million available for new and existing industry sector partnerships, as funded through the recently passed state operating budget. ISPs can be located in any region of Ohio, as long as the focus is on an in-demand sector, such as manufacturing or technology.

?Industry sector partnerships work because we connect educators and businesses in a common mission of helping students and adults earn the skills they need to secure a meaningful career,? said Lt. Governor Husted. ?We can?t leave this important connection to chance, the role state government can play is to help fund and build these local partnerships so educators know what to teach, businesses have access to home-grown talent and Ohioans earn higher wages and have more job security.?

On Friday,?Governor DeWine has authorized the activation of the Ohio National Guard to support relief efforts in storm-ravaged Louisiana.?

At the request of Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards and the Louisiana National Guard, 250 Ohio National Guard Soldiers will be placed on state active duty beginning on Sept. 8.?

Ohio National Guard Soldiers deploying to Louisiana will primarily be activated from the 112th Transportation Battalion (North Canton), the 1485th Transportation Company (Coshocton), and the 1486th Transportation Company (Mansfield).?

The Soldiers will be providing general-purpose support during the relief mission.?The deployment is expected to span three weeks.

Also on?Friday, Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted announced that the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant? program will begin accepting applications online beginning on Monday September 6.

Funded as part of Ohio's 2022-2023 operating budget, the program will provide $250 million in grants to internet service providers for the construction of broadband projects that improve high-speed internet access in unserved and underserved areas of Ohio. Projects will provide service access of at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload to residents in areas that do not have a provider that can supply service at this speed.

"This program is a key investment in Ohio's future as we work toward eliminating the digital divide in our state," said Governor DeWine.??Connecting our rural and underserved areas with reliable internet service will help bring these communities up to speed with the rest of the state and will be a driving force for economic growth."

As of?Friday, there have been 1,241,268 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Ohio. Additionally, 20,947 confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths have occurred. A total of 66,469 people have been hospitalized, including 8,908 admissions to intensive care units.

CASE DATA/VACCINE INFORMATION

In-depth COVID-19 data for Ohio:?coronavirus.ohio.gov.?

Ohio's central scheduling system:?gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov

Ohio mass vaccination information:?coronavirus.ohio.gov/massvaccinationclinics

All vaccine providers:?vaccine.coronavirus.ohio.gov

More vaccine information:?coronavirus.ohio.gov/vaccine

For more information on Ohio's response to COVID-19, visit?coronavirus.ohio.gov?or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Dan Tierney: 614-644-0957