OHIO — Ohio’s stimulus program to help families and small businesses opened Monday with applications being taken by state and local agencies. The response for help to businesses was so great that the state web site businesshelp.ohio.gov was overwhelmed for a time. Ohio Development Services Agency spokesman Todd Walker confirmed the computer slowdown and issued a statement. “Due to great interest in the Small Business Relief Grant & the Bar and Restaurant Assistance Fund programs, some customers are experiencing delays. We encourage applicants to retry submitting their applications. Thank you for your patience as we work to remedy the situation,” Walker said.
The small business fund, with a total of $125 million statewide, is open to a limited number of companies. Development Services Agency Director, Lydia Mihalik said, “These are for really small businesses, businesses who have 25 or fewer full time employees.”
Ohio’s assistance for families totals $50 million across the state. Keelie Gustin of the Miami Valley Community Action Partnership said her agency has been given $4.26 million dollars to distribute to people in Montgomery, Greene, Preble and Darke counties. “I anticipate we are going to see a big spike (in applications ) as individuals find out about this funding and the holidays coming up there’s a lot of payments to account for during this time of year. We’re really excited to be here to be able to help,” Gustin said.
Miami County Community Action Director Keith GunderKline said his agency has been allotted $383,000. “We have staff trained and ready to work with people through this as fast as possible,” GunderKline said.
The opening of the application process for the family rental assistance program and the small business assistance comes just as the Ohio Workers Compensation Fund Board approved a $5 billion dividend to Ohio businesses. The amount being sent to businesses who pay into the insurance fund is in direct relation to the amount they pay in premiums. In the case of the businesses dividend, no application is needed. The agency will send each business, school district and local government agency that pays money into the fund a check by mid-December.
Cox Media Group
