CUYAHOGA, SUMMIT, STARK, TUSCARAWAS Counties, Ohio – The Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area is evolving its existing Grants Program into a Strategic Initiatives Program. The new program will be focused on the disbursement of awards aligned with key elements found in its congressionally designated Corridor Management Plan.
“This year’s focus will be on the building and extension of Canalway travel components and their connections as well as investments into associated visitor nodes,” stated Tim Donovan and Dan Rice, Co-Executive Directors of the Canalway. “The reason for the program change,” added Rice, “is to focus Federal funds into priority projects as defined by our Corridor Management Plan.”
“To balance diminishing appropriations and maximize use of the Federal funds,” continued Donovan, “we’ve capped individual award amounts at $75,000 and increased the minimum match requirement ratio to 2:1.”
The deadline for submission to the new program is April 2, 2012. If you feel you have a project that may align with the stated direction, please contact George Ebey, Strategic Initiatives Coordinator for the Canalway, at 330.374.5657, or e-mail at gebey@ohioeriecanal.org.
The Ohio & Erie Canalway works with local partners in a four-county region - Cuyahoga, Summit, Stark and Tuscarawas. Eligible applicants include State of Ohio political subdivisions, nonprofit organizations, and other persons or projects that fall within the boundaries of the 110-mile Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area. A map of the National Heritage Area, along with Strategic Initiatives Program guidelines, can be found online at: www.ohioanderiecanalway.com.
Complete eligibility requirements are outlined in the Program Overview and Requirements document. It also can be found online at the Canalway website - www.ohioanderiecanalway.com - under the “For Our Canalway Partners” tab, located in the header of each page.
Since the founding of the Ohio & Erie Canalway, the National Heritage Area has awarded over $8.3 million for projects, plans and programs within the Canalway. These funds have been matched with more than $28 million from private, local, state, and other non-federal funding sources. This has allowed the Ohio & Erie Canalway to contribute to the construction of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, the America’s Byway, and Visitor Facilities and Services throughout the Canalway. Projects also enrich local cities, towns, and villages through community development projects that feature historic preservation and/or natural conservation.
About the Ohio & Erie Canalway – The Ohio & Erie Canalway is a National Heritage Area – designated by Congress – to help preserve and celebrate the rails, trails, landscapes, towns and sites that grew up along the first 110 miles of the canal that helped Ohio and our nation grow.