Governor DeWine Launches Second Round of Appalachian Community Grant Program

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) -- Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik announced that approximately $420 million in grant funding is now available to help positively transform Ohio’s 32-county Appalachian region.

The Ohio Department of Development began accepting applications for the second round of the Appalachian Community Grant Program this morning. The program will make a significant impact on Ohio's Appalachian communities by funding projects that revitalize downtowns, enhance quality of life, and help rebuild local economies.

“Ohio’s Appalachian region has so much to offer  - from a willing workforce to historic downtowns and breathtaking natural wonders,” said Governor DeWine. “Funding from this program will help positively transform Appalachia and impact those living there for generations to come.”

“This targeted investment will help bring transformative change to our Appalachian communities,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “Improvements to downtown areas, along with enhancing the local education and workforce systems, will help prepare the entire region for a successful future.”

In total, $500 million has been dedicated to the Appalachian Community Grant Program, which was developed by the DeWine-Husted Administration in partnership with the Ohio General Assembly in 2022. In its first round, the program awarded $30 million for planning and $50 million in development grants for projects impacting communities in Athens, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Gallia, Hocking, Jefferson, Mahoning, Meigs, and Perry counties. 

“With this funding, our Appalachian communities are on the precipice of creating a legacy of sustainable progress,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of Development. “The leadership and collaboration shown by stakeholders in Appalachia will not only result in transformative projects for this region but create lasting change for generations to come.”

Applications and program guidelines are available at development.ohio.gov/AppalachianCommunityGrant. Applications must be submitted by 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8. The Governor’s Office of Appalachia will host an open question and answer availability on Dec. 1. Registration details are available on the program webpage.

The Appalachian Community Grant Program is administered by the Governor’s Office of Appalachia within the Ohio Department of Development. The program is part of the DeWine-Husted Administration’s "Ohio BUILDS – Small Communities, Big Impact – A Plan for Appalachia" initiative focused on enhancing the workforce in Ohio's Appalachian region and improving the area's infrastructure and healthcare. The program was created with the support of the 134th Ohio General Assembly and funded as part of House Bill 377. Program funds are provided by Ohio’s designation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars.

A Letter from Executive Director Alisha Nelson, One Ohio Recovery Foundation

To move forward and make an impact, we must all work together toward our common goal of saving lives. Looking ahead, the Foundation will focus our efforts to establish our first round of grant funding in partnership with our 19 OneOhio Regions and start the work to develop OneOhio’s first strategic plan. To do this, we will need your support and ask you to:

• Join us as we host stakeholder meetings and listening sessions across Ohio– more information coming soon!

• Encourage your friends and colleagues to sign up for updates from OneOhio so they’re receiving information regarding the upcoming grant process and other important news.

In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to send us your ideas and thoughts using our online contact form.

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Open Enrollment is Happening Now: Medicaid, Medicare, and Marketplace Insurance

November marks the beginning of open enrollment period for all types of health plans, including Medicaid enrollment, Medicare enrollment, and Marketplace Insurance Plan enrollment. Enrollment into each of these three types of health coverage plans have different enrollment periods, guidelines, and resources, which we have included below.

Medicaid Open Enrollment

The Managed Care Open Enrollment period is open from November 1^st – November 30^th. Please note, this period runs simultaneously with the state’s return to routine Medicaid eligibility operations. Due to this overlap, they have put together key messaging that providers can share with members and other stakeholders. During open enrollment, members can review the available managed care offerings in Ohio and select the plan that best fits their healthcare needs for the 2024 calendar year.

Please note: Open enrollment (i.e., choosing a plan) is separate and different from renewing your Medicaid coverage. If you are prompted by your local County Department of Job and Family Services (CDJFS) to renew your Medicaid coverage by filling out a renewal packet during this time, please complete and return all requested information to your CDJFS as soon as possible.

Open Enrollment Info: Individuals who need additional information on open enrollmentcan visit the Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline website or call the Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline at 800-324-8680. Representatives are available 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern time.

Return to Medicaid Eligibility Operations Period: Individuals who need additional information on the return to Medicaid eligibility operations period, visit ODM’s Resuming Routine Medicaid Eligibility Operations website or call 1- 844-640-6446

Medicare Open Enrollment

The Medicare Open Enrollment period is from October 15^th – December 7^th. Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 years or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with End-stage Renal Disease.

NEW Eligible Medicare enrollees can explore their Medicare plan options and compare coverages by visiting the New to Medicare Website.

EXISTING Medicare customers can explore possible changes in their Medicare plan by logging into Medicare’s Plan Comparison website.

The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) recognizes that navigating Medicare enrollment for our older residents can be challenging. As such, ODM has partnered with the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) to provide assistance to eligible individuals to help them enroll or update their enrollments in Medicare. OSHIIP provides free, objective health insurance information, 1-on-1 counseling, and navigation services to people eligible for Medicare and their caregivers. Individuals can access supports through OSHIIP in the following ways:

• Visiting their website for additional information.
• Calling their consumer hotline at 1-800-686-1578 where you can speak to a Medicare expert and receive counseling, comparisons, and assistance with enrollments Monday – Friday, 7:30am – 5pm.
• Virtually attending one of OSHIIP's Medicare Checkup Online Webinars.
• Scheduling a virtual, one-on-one counseling appointment.
• Schedule or attend a “Medicare Checkup Event” which are taking place across Ohio during the enrollment period. Medicare Checkup Events by date and location can be viewed here.

Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment

The Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment period runs from November 1^st – December 15^th. Consumers who enroll by midnight on December 15^th will get a full-year coverage that starts January 1^st, 2024.  January 1^st, 2024. Partners and stakeholders are invited to share information about Marketplace open enrollment using the following Social Media Toolkit and Graphics. Individuals who would like to access coverage through the Marketplace can visit HealthCare.gov to update their information for 2024, review health coverage options, and enroll in a plan that best fits their needs.

With investments in the Inflation Reduction Act and the American Rescue Plan, 4-out-of-5 HealthCare.gov customers can find health coverage for $10 or less per month with financial assistance. The Marketplace provides a critical coverage opportunity for consumers who may have lost Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage due to the Medicaid Unwinding following the end of the PHE.

Healthcare.gov has released several resources for consumers who are seeking information about Marketplace Open Enrollment:

• Marketplace Plan Year 2024 Open Enrollment Fact Sheet
• Plan Year 2024 State-Based Marketplace Open Enrollment Chart
• Consumer can apply for health coverage online at: https://www.healthcare.gov
• Find Local Help (Navigators, Certified Application Counselors, Agents & Brokers)
• 24/7 Gov Call Center: 1-800-318-2596 with assistance in over 200 languages, TTY: 1-855-889-4325
• Champions for Coverage can be contacted via email at [email protected], and Assisters who have individual client questions can contact CMS at [email protected].
• Health Insurance Marketplace Partner Resources Fact Sheet – which is intended to be used by providers or stakeholders who might be assisting clients with enrollment in Marketplace Insurance to provide them with the necessary information to assist members in their communities with health insurance enrollment.