The Richland County Foundation Board of Trustees approved $1,245,388.50 in grants to area nonprofit organizations during its August meeting.
The board approved a grant to Richland Community Development Group (RCDG) to continue its economic development efforts through 2021.
In 2015 the Foundation initiated a $1.1 million, five-year Economic Development Investment Plan. RCF funded RCDG to fulfill the Business Retention and Expansion, Workforce Development and Business Attraction aspects of the plan. The original plan was to scale-back funding in 2019.
However, in 2016 RCDG merged with the Richland Area Chamber of Commerce. The new partnership is expected to improve the metrics to attract new businesses, strengthen workforce, retain existing businesses and help other communities like Shelby, Ontario and Bellville with economic development.
Richland County Job and Family Services provided $50,000 each year of the plan to help fund Workforce Development.
In addition to RCDG, the Foundation’s plan has provided funding for a scale-up program to help existing businesses grow, entrepreneurship related services and a community website, Richland Vital Signs, which tracks local economic indicators.
The board reviewed the $57,493 in educational program grants for the upcoming school year to local teachers for their creative or supplemental programs not covered by school funding. The grants were given to K-12 teachers in public and private Richland County schools to encourage them to develop new programs, projects, or events for their classrooms.
The Board of Trustees approved grants from donor advised funds to meet emerging needs at the following organizations:
American Red Cross
Ashland Schine’s Theater Organization
Ashland University
Brown University
Capital Research Center
Clear Fork Schools
Colorado Rocky Mountain School
Conservancy of SW Florida
Emma Willard School
First Congregational Church
Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches
Flying Horse Farms
Grace Episcopal Church, Mansfield OH
Harmony House
Historic Saranac Lake
Judicial Watch
Leadership Research Center
Lucas Community Center
Lucas Local Schools
Mansfield Art Center
Mansfield City Schools
Mansfield Memorial Homes
NAMI, Cleveland OH
Naples Botanical Garden
North End Community Improvement Collaborative
Ohio State Reformatory
Ohio State University
Philanthropy Ohio
Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio
Plymouth Area Historical Society
Plymouth-Shiloh Local Schools
Raemelton Therapeutic Equestrian Center
Rails to Trails of Wayne County
Renaissance Theater
Richland County Foundation
Richland Veteran Mentor Program, Inc.
Salvation Army
Shadowcliff Lodge
St. Matthew’s House, Naples FL
Starfish Project of Richland Co.
Third Street Family Health Services
United Way
United Way Richland Co.
Village of Lexington
Youth Haven, Naples
About the Richland County Foundation
The Richland County Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization, was established in 1945 as a way for individuals to pool and invest their gifts for the long-term good of Richland County and its residents.
The Foundation helps people in Richland County give back to their community by investing their gifts for charity wisely so that grants can be made to improve the quality of life for all of the county’s citizens. Working together with donors, the Foundation meets important needs today and plans for a strong future.