This week the Fund for Our Economic Future voted in favor of creating a two-part program (grants + public awareness and engagement) to help the region’s governments collaborate and be more efficient. Today many Advance Northeast Ohio partners took part in a webinar to learn about the new program and the presentation is attached to this blog. (You have to register and log into the site to access the document.) In short, there will be (in 2009) up to $300,000 dollars available to fund 3 new (or vastly expanded) government collaborations that lead to cost savings and efficiency. These funds are for implementation of new ideas that can be replicated across the region and that involve at least two governmental units (funds cannot be used for planning or studying). More details of this program will be available in 2009 – no deadlines or applications exist today. Please check back for more information. In the meantime, practice telling your friends and your elected officials how important it is for governments to collaborate: be engaged.
