$700K donated to grant program

Dayton downtown businesses can apply for REOPEN funds.

A grant program has been launched with the goal of getting small cash awards to downtown Dayton businesses and has been seeded with $700,000 in donations.

The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Dayton Partnership said they are working with CareSource Foundation to give grants between $2,000 to $10,000 to downtown Dayton businesses.

The grant program is called REOPEN Downtown Dayton and applications are at reopendayton.com.

The CareSource Foundation donated $500,000 toward the program and the Downtown Dayton Partnership said it contributed $200,000 to the fund.

Erhardt Preitauer, CareSource president and chief executive officer, said in a statement that he intends to extend a challenge to CareSource executives to further support the REOPEN downtown Dayton effort. He said he encourages other companies who can to donate to the fund.

“Dayton is an ecosystem and we need to work together to help businesses get back on their feet,” Preitauer stated. “Dayton has always been there for CareSource, and as we grow we will continue to be there for Dayton.”

The announcement said the goal is to distribute the money within a few weeks of the closure of the application window.

Applicant businesses must be locally owned and located in downtown Dayton. The program is specifically seeking to help restaurants, bars, retailers, salons, barbers and personal service companies. Applications can be submitted at ReOpenDayton. com starting Thursday, May 14. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. May 22.

Grant applications will be considered by a panel of Dayton area business leaders, and the number of grants awarded will be based on the number of applications received. Award decisions will be made based on the merit of the applicant. It is not a firstcome, first-served process, organizers said.

REOPEN Dayton is still looking for additional funders. The organizations said that to contribute to the fund, contact REOPEN Dayton Grant Program, visit ReopenDayton.com or contact the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Many of the businesses in the core of our region have been forced to close their doors to customers as we take the steps necessary to combat the COVID-19 health crisis. It’s vital that we do what we can to help them reopen responsibly and bring vibrancy back to our city. That’s what this grant program aims to do,” Chris Kershner, executive vice president, Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce said in a statement.

Sandra Gudorf, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership, said “Our service industry businesses alone represent thousands of jobs, not to mention the fact that having such a unique collection of locally owned businesses makes downtown Dayton a desirable place to live and work. These small businesses are crucial to the long-term success of our city.”

DP&L CEO to step down

Vince Parisi will soon resign as chief executive of Dayton Power & Light, DP&L’s parent company said Wednesday.

The move leaves DP&L searching for a second CEO in a little over a year.

Parisi was named to the position last May, after former president and CEO Craig Jackson left DP&L in December 2018 to “spend more time with his family and begin exploring new career opportunities,” the utility said at that time.

The AES Corp.’s United States Strategic Business Unit said Parisi has resigned to “spend more time with his family,” who live in the Columbus area.

Parisi, who is also president and CEO of Indianapolis Power & Light Company, will depart effective June 5,

AES said.

“I thank Vince for his thoughtful leadership, customer-centric approach and focus on our Indianapolis and Dayton communities,” said Lisa Krueger, AES United States Strategic Business Unit president. “We will continue to deliver safe, reliable and affordable energy service to our customers and invest in the communities we serve.”

“Leaving AES is a bittersweet decision, but it is the best choice for my family and me at this time,” Parisi said in a release from DP&L. “I value the talented team at AES and the friendships I made here and, in the Dayton, and Indianapolis communities. I wish everyone at AES my best as they continue to accelerate the future of energy.”

When he joined DP&L last year, Parisi was a vice president of Columbus-based Columbia Gas of Ohio, Inc.

New option for unemployment

Ohioans who are unemployed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but who don’t qualify for state unemployment benefits, now have a new option.

Residents can now apply for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), a new program that covers more workers than the traditional unemployment program, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (OD JFS) said Wednesday.

The program offers up to 39 weeks of benefits to many who traditionally have not qualified for unemployment benefits, including self-employed individuals, 1099 tax filers and part-time workers. The benefit amount is similar to traditional unemployment payments, plus an additional $600 per week through July 25.

Those who believe they may be eligible should visit pua.unemployment.ohio. gov and click the button that says “Click Here to Apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.”

“We appreciate everyone’s patience as we diligently worked to build this new system in record time for the agency,” OD JFS Director Kimberly Hall said in a release. “We encourage anyone who believes they may be eligible to apply. Even after you return to work, you still may be eligible to receive retroactive benefits, dating from as early as February 2.”

“Many who were denied regular unemployment benefits may be eligible for PUA,” OD JFS said. “Those who have pending unemployment claims may apply before they receive a determination, and individuals who have exhausted traditional unemployment benefits and any available extensions also may be eligible.”

The program is effective through Dec. 31. There is no minimum income requirement.

To be eligible, individuals must not be eligible for regular unemployment benefits and must meet one of the following circumstances:

■ The individual has been diagnosed with COVID-19, or is experiencing symptoms and is seeking medical diagnosis.

■ A member of the individual’s household has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

■ The individual is providing care for a family member or member of the household who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

■ A child or other person in the household for which the individual has primary caregiving responsibility is unable to attend school or another facility is closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 emergency, and the school or care is required for the individual to work.

■ The individual is unable to reach the place of employment because of a quarantine imposed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

■ The individual is unable to reach the place of employment because a health care professional has advised him or her to self-quarantine due to COVID-19 concerns.

■ The individual was scheduled to commence employment and does not have a job or is unable to reach the job as a direct result of COVID-19.

■ The individual has become the breadwinner or major support for a household because the head of the household has died as a direct result of COVID-19.

■ The individual has quit his/her job as a direct result of COVID-19.

■ The individual’s place of employment is closed as a direct result of COVID-19.

Over the last seven weeks, OD JFS has received more than 1 million initial regular unemployment claims, more than the previous three years combined.

More than 89% of those applications have been approved, and fewer than 11% are pending, the state says.