Controlling Board approves waiver contracts for ARC grant-writing support after debate on competition

Ohio Controlling Board, Aug. 25 — The Controlling Board approved two waiver-based contracts for the Department of Development to provide grant-writing and technical assistance related to Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) projects, after agency staff defended the waivers as necessary because of time-sensitive federal application cycles and local relationship continuity. Senator Wilkin and Representative Stewart pressed the department on why the services were granted by waiver rather than a competitive process. Department staff said the waiver is primarily a function of the limited time windows for federal grant applications and the value of continuity with contractors who already know local projects and relationships in Appalachian communities. Why it matters: The contracts support application-writing and project development for communities that may lack internal grant-writing resources. Critics argued broader competition would be preferable; the department said timing and local…