Governor DeWine Directs BWC to Issue Dividend Payments to Employers

Today Governor DeWine announced that he has directed the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) to issue up to $1.6 billion in dividends to employers to help ease the financial burden caused by the COVID-19 crisis. If approved by the BWC board, $1.4 billion will be issued to private employers and the remaining $200 million will go to local governments.

Governor DeWine, Lt. Governor Husted Create Ohio Office of Small Business Relief

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted yesterday announced the creation of the Office of Small Business Relief within the Ohio Development Services Agency. The Office will coordinate state efforts to identify and provide direct support for Ohio’s nearly 950,000 small businesses.

The Office will initially focus on three key areas:

  • It will serve as the state’s designated agency for administrating federal recovery funds awarded to Ohio for small business support and recovery.
  • It will work with federal, state, and local partners to evaluate and determine possible regulatory reforms that encourage employment and job creation.
  • It will coordinate efforts of the Ohio Small Business Development Centers and Minority Business Assistance Centers at local levels.

Resources for small businesses are available online at coronavirus.ohio.gov/businesshelp. New services and support identified by the Office of Small Business Relief will be added to the site.

Additional SNAP Payments to be Issued this Week

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) announced that Ohioans enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) who did not already receive the maximum monthly allotment for their household size in March, will be issued an additional payment beginning this week. SNAP-eligible households will also be able to pick up a pre-packaged box of food at their local foodbank. This came after Ohio received federal approval to waive certain administrative verifications.

COVID-19: Myths vs. Facts

The Ohio Department of Health has created a COVID-19: Myths Versus Facts page on their website. The page also includes a downloadable PDF version of the information for posting in breakrooms or wherever appropriate. Please feel free to include the information in your communications to your employees.