Data Centers Continue to Draw Attention |
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Data centers and their impacts on the economy, energy, water, and land use continue to draw heightened scrutiny amid growing local resistance. In the Ohio House, Reps. Kellie Deeter and Gary Click have introduced HB 646 to create a 13-member study commission to examine data center impacts on communities, infrastructure, and the environment. The panel would hold hearings and report findings to the General Assembly and governor within six months, focusing on water use, grid capacity and pricing, noise and light pollution, economic benefits, and land-use conversion. Separately, Governor DeWine joined a bipartisan group of governors—along with the U.S. secretaries of Energy and Interior—in urging PJM Interconnection to address grid capacity and cost-allocation challenges driven by rapid data center growth. Their Statement of Principles Regarding PJM calls for data centers to bear the full cost of their energy use, including funding new generation, while empowering state regulators such as PUCO to protect other ratepayers. DeWine framed Ohio’s participation as pro-growth and consumer focused. Together, these developments reflect growing resistance to socializing data-center-driven grid costs and are accelerating interest in “bring your own generation” models. States that streamline permitting for both data centers and power infrastructure continue to attract investment, while those imposing broad restrictions risk losing projects. |
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 Data centers are emerging as the latest flashpoint in Ohio’s recurring debate over growth versus community impact—echoing past fights over fracking, pipelines, and power plants. But as the CEO of Huntsman Corp. recently observed in a WSJ column, “data centers are the factories of the 21st century.” Attempting to “pause” them does not reduce demand; it shifts investment, raises costs, and exports innovation. Ohio’s challenge is to manage impacts through structured review, not blanket resistance. |
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Ohio December Spending Spikes, but FY Remains on Track |
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Ohio’s General Revenue Fund (GRF) spending exceeded estimates by $350 million in December, but the fiscal year remains largely aligned with projections, according to the Office of Budget and Management. Total GRF disbursements reached $3.9 billion—9.9% above forecast—driven primarily by timing-related factors. Key drivers of the monthly variance: - Primary and Secondary Education: The largest overage—$347.4 million or 90.9%—resulted from two foundation aid payments being processed instead of one to avoid potential holiday-related disruptions.
- Justice and Public Protection: Up $74.1 million over forecast as the Department of Rehabilitation & Correction accelerated community corrections funding, and the Attorney General's office released school safety grants earlier than planned.
- Medicaid and Health and Human Services: Both came in below estimates—Medicaid was $54.1 million (2.2%) below due to delays in retroactive managed care payments while Health and Human Services spending was $26.8 million (12.9%) less than projected as the Department of Children & Youth leveraged federal funds.
All-funds disbursements were below expectations at $3.5 billion—$1.8 billion (34.2%) under forecast—due primarily to pending CMS approval for Hospital Additional Payments expected to materialize in future months. Noteworthy, Medicaid GRF spending was $1.1 billion (92%) higher than December of last fiscal year, even as enrollment dropped by more than 117,000. |
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 December’s uptick reflects cash flow timing, not a shift in fiscal trajectory. With year-to-date spending just 0.3% above estimates, Ohio’s budget remains on solid footing, though delayed federal approvals warrant continued monitoring. |
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| OneOhio Regional Grant Cycle 2 Opens for Applications |
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The OneOhio Recovery Foundation has opened its Regional Grant Cycle 2 Funding Inquiry window, offering another opportunity for organizations to access opioid settlement funds. Interested applicants must submit inquiries by February 11 through the OneOhio Grant Headquarters. Grants will support efforts aligned with OneOhio's mission to remediate the impact of the opioid crisis, funding evidence-based community programs, and recovery services across the state. Key Dates to know: - Jan. 14 – Funding Inquiry window opens
- Feb. 11 – Funding Inquiry window closes
- Mar.–May – Review period
- May 29 – Regional Boards submit recommendations
OneOhio is providing webinars to help organizations navigate the process including a Funding Inquiry Webinar on January 21 and an Impact Academy Evidence Guide session on January 27. Additional resources including an Evidence Guide and Funding Priorities Document are available on the Grant HQ webpage. |
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 This OneOhio grant cycle is another critical step in Ohio's long-term opioid recovery strategy. With 19 regions overseeing fund allocation and clear guidance from the Foundation, organizations have both opportunity and responsibility to submit thoughtful, impact-driven proposals. The emphasis on evidence-based programming signals OneOhio's commitment to ensuring these limited resources yield meaningful, measurable results. |
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Hicks Partners Welcomes Taylor Nemeth as Director of Economic Development & Grants |
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Hicks Partners is pleased to announce that Taylor Nemeth has joined the firm as Director of Economic Development & Grants. Taylor previously worked for Congressman Troy Balderson for six years and has a proven track record in federal relations, grant administration, and stakeholder engagement. Her expertise in intergovernmental coordination positions her to lead high-impact initiatives for clients navigating complex funding and development landscapes. We are seeing continued growth in economic development and energy siting services at a time when federal dollars are flowing and competition for funding is steep. Taylor will lead efforts to identify new opportunities for clients from grant development to economic development, stakeholder engagement, while supporting broader stakeholder engagement activities. |
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Access our curated list of federal grants, including the USDOT Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program (up to $25 million) and the DOL YouthBuild (up to $2 million). Review the list of ongoing grant opportunities, click the link below. |
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