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The Washington County Commission's grants department will seek the county's share of a one-time $40 million grant available to all counties from the Ohio Department of Aging and the Healthy Aging Grants program.
Competitive scoring is not involved to receive the funding. Counties simply have to apply for their share, according to Washington County Grants Program Manager Rob Grant.
The state has determined Washington County's share to be $241,438. The deadline to apply is Friday.
The Healthy Aging Grants program stipulates 20% of funds received must go into food assistance services, 20% to minor housing adjustments that will allow seniors to stay safely and longer in their own homes and 10% to digital literacy services. The remaining 50% can be determined by each county.
The county's participation is appropriate since 27% of Washington County's population is over 60, Commissioner Charlie Schilling said Thursday.
Future discussions will be on how the county can best address other senior issues with the undesignated portion of money.
A need already cited to the commission is a way more seniors can find reliable transportation to programs and activities at the O'Neill Center in Marietta and the Belpre Senior Center, Schilling said.