Many of your favorite local restaurants in Champaign County are still offering carry out and delivery options. From Cafe Paradiso, to Airport Cafe, Braden's Cafe & Sweets, Mumford's, Uncle Beth's, Cardinal's Pizza and more. Champaign County Visitor's Bureau has you covered, with local restaurant menus available in one place!

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Dr. Amy Acton, MD, MPH, today made several major announcements regarding Ohio's plan to responsibly restart Ohio's economy during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. ​
HEALTHCARE: 
Beginning May 1, 2020, all medically necessary procedures that do not require an overnight stay in a healthcare facility or do not require inpatient hospital admission and minimizes use of personal protective equipment may move forward. This includes regular doctor visits, well-care checks, well-baby visits, out-patient surgeries, imaging procedures, and diagnostic tests. Dental services and veterinary services may also proceed if a safe environment can be established.
Healthcare providers and facilities that plan to resume providing these services must adhere to infection control practices, have sufficient PPE, and talk with patients about the risk of contracting COVID-19.
Surgeries and procedures that, if not performed, would cause a threat to a patient's life, a threat of the spread of cancer or the permanent dysfunction of a limb or organ, the presence of severe symptoms causing an inability to perform activities of daily living, and/or the risk of rapidly worsening symptoms have always been permitted even if an overnight stay is necessary. 
RESPONSIBLE RESTART OHIO: 
The guiding principles of the Responsible RestartOhio plan are protecting the health of employees, customers, and their families, supporting community efforts to control the spread of COVID-19, and responsibly getting Ohio back to work. 
"We put this plan together based on all the information we have about how dangerous COVID-19 still is right now, balanced with the fact that it's also dangerous to have people not working," said Governor DeWine. "COVID-19 is still out there. It's still killing people. We're asking Ohioans to be reasonable and rational. Please don't take huge chances, and please use common sense when you go out and where you go out."
Beginning on May 4, 2020, manufacturing, distribution, and construction businesses may reopen if these businesses can meet mandatory safety requirements for customers and employees. The full Responsible RestartOhio plan for manufacturing, distribution, and construction can be found at coronavirus.ohio.gov/ResponsibleRestartOhio.
Beginning on May 4, 2020, general office environments may reopen if these businesses can meet mandatory safety requirements for customers and employees. The full Responsible RestartOhio plan for general office environments can be found at coronavirus.ohio.gov/ResponsibleRestartOhio.
Beginning on May 12, 2020, consumer, retail and services, may reopen if these businesses can meet mandatory safety requirements for customers and employees. The full Responsible RestartOhio plan for consumer, retail and services can be found at coronavirus.ohio.gov/ResponsibleRestartOhio.
The general safe business practices that all businesses must follow as they reopen are: 

• Requiring face coverings for all employees, and recommending them for clients and customers at all times
• Conducting daily health assessments or self-evaluations of employees to determine if they should work
• Maintaining good hygiene at all times such as hand washing and social distancing
• Cleaning and sanitizing workplaces throughout the day and at the close of business or between shifts
• Limiting capacity to meet social distancing guidelines

"I have an obligation as the Governor of Ohio to get people back to work and keep them safe. Opening everything up at once would not be consistent with the obligation to keep people safe," said Governor DeWine. "Our Responsible RestartOhio plan is the best guarantee that Ohioans will feel safe going to stores and employees will feel safe going to work. I'm optimistic about our future, but we can't be reckless."
CONTINUED CLOSURES: 
The following types of establishments are ordered to remain closed due to their increased risk of potential COVID-19 exposure: 

• Schools and daycares
• Dine-in restaurants and bars (carry-out is still permitted) 
• Personal appearance and beauty businesses
• Older adult daycare services and senior centers 
• Adult day support or vocational rehabilitation services in group settings
• Entertainment, recreation, and gyms

For greater detail on the types of businesses that must stay closed, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov/ResponsibleRestartOhio.
STAY AT HOME ORDER / LARGE GATHERINGS: 
Because the danger of COVID-19 still exists, Ohio's Stay at Home order will remain in effect to encourage Ohioans to continue making reasonable, rational decisions about leaving home.
Although anyone is susceptible to getting sick with COVID-19, those who are 65 or older are encouraged to be especially careful, as are those with high-risk conditions such as chronic lung disease, moderate to severe asthma, heart conditions, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or liver disease, as well as those who are immunocompromised or obese.
Large gatherings of more than 10 people are still prohibited.  
MORE INFORMATION: 
More detailed information on the Responsible RestartOhio plan can be found at www.coronavirus.ohio.gov/ResponsibleRestartOhio. 
CURRENT OHIO DATA: 
There are 16,325 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Ohio and 753 confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths. A total of 3,232 people have been hospitalized, including 978 admissions to intensive care units. In-depth data can be accessed by visiting coronavirus.ohio.gov. 
Video of today's full update, including versions with foreign language closed captioning, can be viewed on the Ohio Channel's YouTube page. 
For more information on Ohio's response to COVID-19, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.

Small businesses in Champaign County have a new source of financial assistance to help them reopen and recover from the pandemic -- the COVID-19 Champaign County Small Business Emergency Grant Fund.
 
The Champaign Economic Partnership (CEP) established the local grant program with the support of the Champaign County Board of Commissioners, which allocated a portion of local tax dollars generated for economic development through conveyance fees collected on Champaign County real estate sales.
 
“We are very thankful to the Champaign County Commissioners for funding this important initiative,” Kyle Hall, president of the CEP Board of Trustees, said. “The COVID-19 grant fund can really make a difference in our county. It will help small businesses bridge the gap in revenue during the shutdown and help them meet safety requirements for reopening, so that consumers will return to them with confidence.”
 
Through 5 p.m. May 15, qualifying local businesses may complete and submit a simple application for $500 to $2,500 in grant funds, at www.champaignworks.com/PayItForwardGrant. 
​Businesses may submit their applications directly from the website. But if they prefer, they may print out the application form, complete it, and drop it in the Champaign Economic Partnership mailbox (next to the CEP office door, inside the ATM lobby of Security National Bank, 3 Monument Square, Urbana), or email their completed, scanned application to the CEP at info@cepohio.com, by the 5 p.m. May 15 deadline.
 
“The commissioners want to support the health and vitality of the Champaign County business community during the pandemic,” said County Commissioner Steve Hess, who serves on the CEP Board of Trustees. “Through this grant fund we want to help our local businesses get through this crisis by supplementing the support they’re getting from the state and federal government.”
 
To be eligible for the grant program, commercial or retail businesses must have a storefront in Champaign County (cannot be home-based or nonprofit), have fewer than 50 employees, be current on local, state and federal obligations such as taxes and assessments, been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and, if a franchise, have no more than two storefronts in the county and not be corporate owned.
 
CEP Director Marcia Bailey said the grants may be used for operating expenses such as rent, utilities, payroll, and the cost of supplies and modifications needed to comply with safety requirements for reopening. Grant money cannot be used for taxes or other assessments. Grant recipients will be required to report to the grant committee how they spent the money.
 
“Our grant committee desires to make this a self-perpetuating fund so that money will be available to support future economic sustainability in our community,” Bailey said. “Through the Pay It Forward provision of the program, we will encourage grant recipients to contribute financially to the Champaign County Small Business Grant Fund once their businesses are back on their feet – in an amount equal to or greater than their grant.”
 
She added, “Our small businesses are essential to the vitality of Champaign County. We want to do what we can to help get them back on track, to continue providing jobs and valuable products and services that make our county a better place to live and work.” 
 
For grant guidelines and the application, visit www.champaignworks.com/PayItForwardGrant

Clark State Community College officials said the school will receive $2.9 million.
​
Half of Clark State’s funds will go directly to students whose education has been impacted by COVID-19, according to a statement from the college. The other half of the funds will go to Clark State in order to provide financial relief related to coronavirus related expenses.
​
“The intent of the ACT is to get the money to students quickly to help during this uncertain time,” Jo Alice Blondin, president of Clark State said.

In order to follow the guidelines outlined in the CARES Act, Clark State will send the money directly to students — the students simply need to apply, the statement said.
​
Funds from the CARES Act will be available to Clark State students on a first-come, first-served basis, the statement said, until the monies designated for students are expended.

The uses for these emergency funds include technology needs, food, tuition assistance, childcare, transportation and more, the statement said.

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) announced April 14 that the U.S. Department of Education distributed $388 million in funding to institutions of higher education in Ohio as part of the COVID-19 response, a statement on his website said. The higher education emergency fund was provided through the bipartisan CARES Act.

“Like many industries and employers across the state, the coronavirus pandemic is having a serious impact on our higher education institutions,” Portman said. “The CARES Act rescue package that was recently signed into law included additional resources to help those institutions.”

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) said in a post on his website the CARES Act is another “important step in the right direction.”

“I will continue working with Sen. Portman, Gov. DeWine and local leaders across Ohio to help communities get the resources they need,” Brown said.

Students can complete an application at clarkstate.academicworks.com/opportunities/903 and can expect a response within 24-hours.

“Clark State is always focused on the needs of our students. We are committed to providing support services that enable them to be successful,” Toni Overholser, director of the Clark State Foundation said. “We understand that our students are struggling in this difficult time and want to assist them … We want to reassure students that we are here for them and we will get through this together.”

The Springfield News-Sun reached out to Wittenberg University about plans for their $1.7 million in federal aid and did not receive a response.

Wittenberg President Mike Frandsen said previously the university was reviewing options “to offer financial support to students,” including offering refunds for room and board.

“One option we are considering is a refund or a credit of partial room and board charges for the spring semester,” Frandson said previously. “We hope to have more definitive guidance on this no later than April 30, but please know that we will be issuing refunds or credits for some portion of the room and board charges that you were, unfortunately, unable to utilize.”
​
According to Portman’s website, funding for local institutes of higher education include:
• Cedarville Univerisity: $2,294, 323
• Clark State Community Collge: $2,914,627
• Wilberforce University: $689,372
• Wittenberg University: $1,728,770
• Wright State University: $10,140,846

3 Ways to Vote

• Call : 877-SOS-OHIO
• Print at Home & Mail In : voteohio.gov
• Make your own Ballot : voteohio.gov/makeyourown

** Write  “requesting absentee ballot” You will then receive a ballot in the mail from the Board of Elections.

Dan Walter of the Champaign County Historical Society was interviewed on the program and displayed artifacts associated with Tecumseh, Simon Kenton, John Quincy Adams Ward, Addison White and others.


“Diana Bergemann, producer at WOSU, contacted us last fall and indicated that they were doing a series on museums, etc. located in neighboring counties and would like to come over and shoot a segment at our museum,” said Walter. “They asked that we pull items ‘from the vault,’ if possible, as that was to be a sub-theme of the show.


“I met Diana at the museum for a preliminary visit on Sept. 11. On the morning of Nov. 13, Diana and her full crew arrived and proceeded with the shoot, which lasted about two hours,” he added. “They said that when the segment would air in the spring that it would only last 5 to 7 minutes, however, as it turns out, we occupied about one-third of the half-hour show.”


The segment can be watched by going to https://columbusneighborhoods.org/video/champaign-county-history/

Click here to read full article on Urbana Daily Citizen.