Wells Fargo Looking to Expand Donations

Practices of Successful Nonprofit Housing Organizations

Consumer Courage: The Big Book of Ohio Consumer Rights

Black Rock Arts Foundation Civic Art Projects

Grants of up to $10,000 for interactive, community driven, collaborative works of art that are accessible to the public and civic in scope. December 1, 2014 deadline. View the RFP.

Design Competition for $50,000 and $10,000 Awards

USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grants

MLK Day of Service Mini-Grants Available

Efficiency Crafted Homes Provide Incentives

Walmart

Statewide Housing Policy Summit

The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) is hosting a statewide policy summit to convene thought leaders, advocates and stakeholders around issues in affordable housing. Sessions will be organized to support development of the policy pools considered for inclusion in the 2016 Qualified Allocation Plan. The summit will also serve as a forum to discuss housing and economic development issues impacting our neighborhoods and communities. This event, to be held Tuesday, December 16^th, 2014 will draw colleagues from across the affordable housing sector to the Riffe Executive Conference and Training Center for a one-day exchange. For more information and to register click here.

Community Connectors

Governor John R. Kasich signed executive order 2014-05K creating the Community Connector Advisory Board to help provide guidance to the state superintendent of public instruction on Ohio's new school mentoring program.  Community Connectors is one of the key education reforms signed into law by Kasich last June and seeks to bring together parents, community organizations, faith-based groups, businesses and others to support Ohio's schools and to mentor students.  Community Connectors provides $10 million in 3-to-1 matching grants that will help give more Ohio students access to role models who can help motivate and inspire them, as well as help them develop skills that lead to success in school and the workplace. Grant recipients must be non-profits and applications are anticipated to be available in the near term. Applications will be posted here.

Federal FY 2015 Budget

The results of the mid-term elections, in which the majority party in the U.S. Senate changed from Democratic to Republican, weighs heavily on what Congress can accomplish before the end of the year. Of top interest is how Congress will address FY15 appropriations. The continuing resolution (CR) that is keeping the federal government open and operating at FY14 funding levels that expires on December 11. Ideally, Congress will pass an omnibus appropriations bill before December 11, but it remains to be seen whether Congressional leadership will be able to secure the votes needed to do so or if a showdown is looming. Republican lawmakers intend to use the imminent need to pass a government spending bill as leverage to block or substantially weaken the impact of the president's immigration plan. According to several key Republican lawmakers, including House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio-8th) and Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), there are several legislative proposals being considered to avoid a government shutdown as the December 11 deadline looms, including the enactment of a short- or long-term continuing resolution. Another option gaining traction is the adoption of a full-year spending bill for most government agencies, but one that would only provide short-term funding for agencies that would carry out the president's executive actions on immigration.

A free webinar on December 4^th at 4:00 pm examines "Creating a Thriving Local Ecosystem: Business Alliances, Incubators & Accelerators" and will look at two models for organizing local entrepreneurs in order to foster new systems of economic development. For more information click here.