The Franklin County Commissioners this morning released their
fifth annual State of the County report, acknowledging the challenges that 2020 has already brought, and highlighting many of their accomplishments from last year. Broken down into sections according to the commissioners’ core principles of Community Safety and Security, Job Creation and Economic Development, Health and Human Services, Environmental Sustainability, and Fiscally Responsible Government, the report lists accomplishments and statistics, and highlights particular commissioner initiatives.
“Even in these very difficult times, we know that Franklin County is strong because its people are strong, and because we’ve prepared for challenges like the ones we’re facing now,” said Board of Commissioners President John O’Grady. “I’m proud of the work that our team does year-round, and today’s report highlights just some of the ways that we work every day for each of our Franklin County residents.”
Among the highlighted programs were the commissioners’ Rise Together blueprint to address poverty, the Step Up To Quality childcare initiative, smart justice initiatives, a community pet food pantry at the dog shelter, new grants to community partners, a new program to provide social services clients with training to become truck drivers, and historic new investments in affordable housing. Once again last year, Franklin was also able to achieve the greatest “leverage” of any county in the nation for Housing and Urban Development HOME Partnership funds. The commissioners’ Office on Aging reports delivering more than 700,000 meals to seniors, the dog shelter had a 92.2% live release rate, and county fleet vehicles were driven more than 6.3 million miles. Also, for the first time last year, Franklin County was named as the healthiest large employer in Central Ohio.
“Many of the programs we highlight in the State of the County report have helped our residents to get their own families into a better financial state,” said Commissioner Marilyn Brown. “We know that our neighbors will rely on that assistance more than ever to get through this disruption and continue building a prosperous community for every resident. We’re here for them and will be for the long-term.”
For the first time this year, the commissioners’ report includes updates from county partners, the Emergency Management Agency (EMA), Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), and the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO). The commissioners’ Department of Homeland Security and Regional Communications was dissolved last year, and its responsibilities divided into the Office of Justice Policy and Programs and EMA. Both SWACO and MORPC reported on their extensive environmental initiatives.
At their weekly General Session meeting this morning, the commissioners acknowledged that the 2020 State of the County report reflects their office’s work in 2019 prior to the coronavirus outbreak. They thanked Board of Commissioners’ staff for all of their hard work in helping to keep county government moving forward smoothly even in a public health crisis, and promised further reporting later in the year that will reflect the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on county residents and the county budget.
To read and download the full 2020 State of the County Report, visit
report.franklincountyohio.gov.