I'm Funded...Now What?

SCIP/LTIP/RLP Infrastructure Program Funding Basics

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  Getting Approved for Funding

   

  Applicants apply to their individual District Integrating Committees for funding. Each District Committee meets to approve projects between November and February. Once approved by the District, the District Liaison sends the approved applications to OPWC. The District Program Representative reviews all applications for compliance and prepares the agreement to be delivered on or about July 1st.

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  Receiving Agreements

   

  On July 1st of each year, project agreements are sent electronically to the project officials via One Span Sign (new in 2021). All three project officials will receive the email with a copy of the project agreement, but only the project CEO will be prompted to sign. If there is a loan, the project CFO will also be prompted to sign the Promissory Note. Follow the link in your email and OneSpan sign will walk you through e-signing your agreement. 

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  Establish Capital Projects Fund

   

  All recipients must establish a fund for each project awarded for both the OPWC assistance and the local matching funds to account for revenues and expenditures. 

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  Verify Vendor

   

  It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that the vendor (consultant or contractor) has an account in the Ohio Supplier Portal. OPWC does not review bid documents, but provides contractual bid documents here. (OPWC eliminated the Request to Proceed)

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  Change of Project Official

   

  It is common for project officials to change between the time of application and the time the project agreement is released. This is okay since it is a common occurrence; however, OPWC does not reprint project agreements to make these changes. Inform the Program Rep via email of the change needed.

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  Schedule Extensions

   

  Unforeseen circumstances can cause delays in construction projects, and we understand. Remember, the project schedule is part of the application process. If things change, notify the Program Rep to request a schedule extension. Written requests for extensions may be made during the project, too.

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  Disbursements

   

  We give our customers flexibility with disbursing our funds. OPWC can pay contractors directly for eligible invoices or we can reimburse the applicant for paid invoices, whichever works best for your community's needs. Remember the OPWC agreement is for a percentage of total project costs, up to a specific grant/loan amount. When filling out disbursements maintain the local share percentage by only requesting OPWC disburse funds at our participation ratio. OPWC cannot disburse the full grant/loan amount prior to the total project costs reaching the total estimated project costs listed in the project agreement. 

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  Reimbursement

   

  If you would like to pay the invoices directly, when you submit a disbursement request you will submit the invoices along with proof of payment evidence of completed bank transfer by cancelled check image front and back, or screenshot from online bank. OPWC will then reimburse, at our participation ratio, for these eligible costs. Visit here to see our local match and in-kind policies. 

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  OPWC Paying Contractors

   

  OPWC typically pays contractors directly. Page 3 of the disbursement form is where you indicate who you wish OPWC to pay and what amount. We maintain a Payment Status webpage that is updated daily with the dates of when finance enters the payment and the date of when the payment will be issued. We encourage applicants to let their vendors know about this webpage as a first place to look to know when to expect payment. Payment confirmation letters are uploaded monthly to our website here. 

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  Closing Out A Project

   

  Closing out a project is simple. The top of the third page of the disbursement request form needs to be marked to indicate when it is the final request. Once you have compiled all of your eligible invoices and project costs, mark that this is the final disbursement and your Program Rep will close out the project in our system once they process that disbursement. If you forget to indicate it was the final disbursement, simply email your Program Rep letting them know there are no more project costs and the project can be closed out. If there are any remaining funds they will be returned to the District and will be added to the carry forward balance. Remember that project agreements are written for a participation rate, up to the assistance amount; therefore, the total assistance amount will be used only if the project comes in at or over budget. 

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  What to Expect When Closing Out a Loan

   

  Loans are moved into billing once the Program Rep closes out the project which signals the Loan Officer to generate and complete an amortization schedule. Amortization schedules and paydown reports can be found here for loans that are already in billing. Loan payments are due twice a year, in January and July. The CFO will be emailed a notice when loan invoices are available for download from our website. The timing of the first loan payment will depend on the timing of when the project is closed out.