The Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) offers the Small Government Program, a dedicated funding initiative for villages and townships with populations under 5,000 in unincorporated areas. This program sets aside $20 million annually from the State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP) allocation to support infrastructure projects that enhance public facilities, transportation, and utilities in smaller communities. Local governments that apply for SCIP funding but do not receive district-level awards may be selected for Small Government consideration by the District Committee, giving them a secondary opportunity to receive funding.

The Small Government Program follows a structured and competitive application process to ensure fairness and consistency. Applicants must adhere to the provided application materials and submit complete documentation as required. The program administrator does not identify application deficiencies, making it the responsibility of the applicant to meet all requirements and submit a competitive proposal. Applications are assessed based on pre-determined criteria, including the quality of the proposal, project necessity, and public benefit.

For the FY 2026 / Round 39 cycle, the agreement release is scheduled for July 1, 2025. The Small Government Commission Voting Meeting will take place on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 10 a.m. at the Ohio Water Development Authority in Columbus. Final funding decisions will be posted on the Project Slates tab.

Applicants must submit the Engineer’s Plan Status Certification and CFO Local Share Certification by March 31, 2025. Additional project-specific cure deadlines will be communicated via email to project officials listed in WorksWise, OPWC’s application management system. During the cure period, applicants must ensure all required documentation is properly uploaded to WorksWise, as files submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Available application resources include the Applicant Manual, Methodology Guide, MHI Data (updated as of January 7, 2025), and Population Data from the 2020 Census.

For road projects addressing vehicular crashes, applicants can reference Criterion 5, which evaluates population benefits. Additional guidance is available for calculating the rate of return and utilizing the Safety Application Tool.

For further inquiries, applicants can contact the OPWC Small Government Administrator, Jennifer Hufford, via email at Jennifer.Hufford@pwc.ohio.gov or by phone at 614-752-8118. The OPWC’s main office is located at 77 South High Street, Suite 1846, Columbus, OH 43215, with a general contact number of 614-674-3414.