The Fund for Our Economic Future, a collaborative effort to strengthen regional economic competitiveness in Northeast Ohio, has announced a new competitive awards program, EfficientGovNow.
Under the program, local governments in the region are encouraged to submit government collaboration and efficiency proposals to the Fund, which will provide a total of $300,000 to as many as three projects. Project proposals will be posted online for public review, and the residents of Northeast Ohio will ultimately select which of the collaboration projects will receive funding.
The name EfficientGovNow was chosen because it explicitly tells elected officials and the public the purpose of the program.
“The Fund wants to support government collaboration efforts that will result in more efficient government now,” said Brad Whitehead, president, Fund for Our Economic Future. “The EfficientGovNow program isn’t for studies or planning. The public is eager to see greater government collaboration and this program is designed to encourage such efforts.”
Throughout the region, numerous government entities have increased governmental collaboration and efficiency. Projects like shared fire halls or combined city-county buildings, shared school superintendents, shared emergency dispatch services, and other such collaborations are gaining momentum. The Fund sees this program as a means to accelerate more collaboration, added Whitehead.
How It Works
Local government officials are encouraged to apply for an EfficientGovNow award to support the implementation of projects that will reduce government expenditures and strengthen our region’s economic competitiveness. Among the requirements of the proposals is that they involve more than one governmental unit collaborating on the project and demonstrate the potential to be replicated.
Project partners will have until April 15 to submit a project abstract for review. The abstract form, as well all information and materials needed to participate, are available at the program Web site, www.EfficientGovNow.org. Completed proposals must be submitted by May 31 to be considered. Once submitted, the abstracts and full proposals will be posted for public review and comment.
The Fund will announce the finalists on July 1 and the public voting will take place throughout the month, ending July 31.
“While three collaboration projects will receive funding at this time, each and every application for an EfficientGovNow award is important to strengthening our region’s economic competitiveness,” said Whitehead. “We hope that with the public’s support and encouragement, those efforts that don’t receive funding this time will push forward on their own.”
The Time Is Now
A recent public opinion survey by the Fund found that a significant majority of Northeast Ohio residents say they want to see greater local government collaboration, even consolidation, to improve our region’s economic competitiveness.
The survey, the Northeast Ohio Barometer of Economic Attitudes, conducted in 2008, found that 82% of residents surveyed favor greater government collaboration, and 67% favor government consolidations. These numbers favoring government reform are significantly higher than in previous surveys.
Combined with the financial challenges facing local governments across the 16 counties of Northeast Ohio, the time to act is now.
Kent State University is serving as the fiscal agent for the program. Working with the Fund on EfficientGovNow are representatives from Kent State University’s Center for Public Administration & Public Policy, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University’s Center for Leadership Development, Cuyahoga Community College, Lorain County Community College Public Service Institute and Oberlin College.
ANEO Choice Awards
The grant awards will be known as ANEO Choice Awards.
“Based on the success of the EfficientGovNow program, the Fund anticipates developing more opportunities to engage the public in helping to reward efforts to achieve the goals of the Advance Northeast Ohio (ANEO) agenda,” explained Whitehead. These grants are the first of the ANEO Choice Awards.
The Fund collaborates with partners in the private and public sector to implement the region’s economic action plan, Advance Northeast Ohio, which has four focus areas:
• Business attraction and growth
• Talent development
• Growth through racial and economic inclusion
• Government collaboration and efficiency
ABOUT THE FUND FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE
The Fund for Our Economic Future (www.futurefundneo.org) is a collaboration of more than 100 foundations, organizations and philanthropists from across Northeast Ohio that strengthens the region’s economic competitiveness through grantmaking, public engagement and research. The Fund works with its partners to implement and support regional initiatives that address the priorities of Advance Northeast Ohio (www.advancenortheastohio.org), the region’s economic action plan.