FY26 State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP)

The Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) offers the State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP) to provide financial assistance for public infrastructure improvements across Ohio. Established in 1987 and renewed through various amendments to the Ohio Constitution, the program allows the state to issue general obligation bonds to fund eligible projects. Funding under SCIP is made available through grants, loans, and loan assistance or local debt support, aimed at fostering community improvement through robust infrastructure development. The primary objective of SCIP is to assist local government entities in executing essential infrastructure projects. Eligible projects include improvements to roads, bridges, culverts, water supply systems, wastewater systems, stormwater collection systems, and solid waste disposal facilities. The program targets counties, cities, villages, townships, and water and sanitary districts organized under ORC 6119 or 6117. The program encourages competitive bidding for all project work to ensure fairness and efficiency. Applicants can request funding through OPWC’s online portal, WorksWise. To access WorksWise, applicants must obtain a username and password via their OPWC Program Representative. OPWC also provides online training for system usage. Each of Ohio’s 19 District Public Works Integrating Committees may have unique application requirements, scoring methodologies, and deadlines, which applicants must review on their respective District pages. Required application attachments include authorizing legislation, CFO certification of local funds and loan repayment letter, engineer's estimate and useful life statement, project map, and cooperative agreements if applicable. SCIP grants can cover up to 90% of total project costs for repair and replacement projects, and up to 50% for new or expansion projects. Loans can fund up to 100% of project costs with no minimum or maximum loan amount, and an interest rate of 0%. Loan terms range from one to thirty years, not exceeding the project’s useful life. Loan repayments occur biannually in January and July. Loan assistance is also available, providing grants to cover interest on public or private construction loans initiated within three years before the project agreement date. Loan assistance applications must include the loan amortization schedule and cannot be combined with grant or loan applications. Applications for the FY26 SCIP open on June 10, 2025, and close on July 1, 2025. Projects are expected to start on July 1, 2025, and conclude by June 30, 2026. Disbursement of funds will be made either to an authorized lending institution or as reimbursement to the award recipient. The Ohio Water Development Authority bills OPWC directly in cases involving loan assistance. Applicants must adhere to all OPWC processes, including the potential adoption of a Resolution of Intent if they plan to seek reimbursement for incurred project costs. It is crucial to comply with these guidelines to avoid disbursement issues. For further guidance, applicants can contact Nick Rose at [email protected] or consult the OPWC staff directory. Additional resources, such as sample project agreements and promissory notes, are available to help applicants understand OPWC’s legal terms and conditions before applying. The official program website, https://publicworks.ohio.gov/programs/infrastucture/scip-ltip/01-scip-ltip, provides comprehensive information. Questions and additional correspondence can also be directed to the Ohio Grants Partnership at [email protected].