Natural Resources Assistance Council Awards More Than $3 Million in Clean Ohio Funds

Sustainability

May 5, 2022

Four projects awarded funding in Franklin County.

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) has announced four projects awarded over $3 million in Clean Ohio Conservation Funds (COCF) in Round 16 for District 3 (Franklin County) from the Natural Resources Assistance Council (NRAC).

Awarded projects include:

Rank	Applicant	Project Name	Total Project Cost	COCF Amount Requested	Total COCF Awarded
1	Hilliard	Clover Groff Run Restoration Phase II	$1,321,660	$594,747	$594,747
2	Metro Parks	Schleppi Run Acquisition	$3,377,350	$1,688,675	$1,688,675
3	Columbus	Big Walnut South Clean Protection	$437,000	$304,000	$304,000
4	Columbus	West Franklinton Greenspace Project	$947,000	$620,000	$620,000
		TOTAL			$3,207,422

The COCF is part of the Clean Ohio program approved by voters in 2008. The funding can be used to acquire green space and/or restore riparian corridors (strips of vegetation along a river, stream, lake, or other natural body of water).

“This round of Clean Ohio funding will result in a wide variety of beneficial projects in District 3. From large-scale acquisition and stream restoration, to providing valuable open space in urbanized areas, this round of funding will help preserve and restore valuable natural resources that help make Central Ohio a great place to call home.”

NRAC District 3 Chair, Kyle Wilson

Local governments, parks and joint recreation districts, conservancy districts, soil and water conservation districts, and non-profit organizations located in Franklin County are all eligible to apply for these grant funds.

“Clean Ohio Funds makes it possible for us as a community to continue to preserve open spaces and restore riparian corridors. We hope the next round will continue to attract an equally competitive pool of applicants and projects.”

District 3 Liaison and MORPC Senior Planner, Edwina Teye, Ph.D.

To learn more about the Natural Resources Assistance Council, click here.