Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission

Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, a U.S. local government entity and metropolitan planning organization headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, operates as a federal grant recipient providing regional transportation planning, economic development strategy coordination, environmental monitoring, and transit-related program administration across an 11-county service area in central Ohio (Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Knox, Licking, Logan, Madison, Marion, Morrow, Pickaway, and Union Counties). The organization holds 98 federal awards split between 40 prime grants (41%) and 58 sub-awards (59%), with recent activity concentrated in transportation, housing, energy, and community development programs.

MORPC's grant footprint centers on the Federal Highway Administration, which has awarded $12 thousand in combined potential value across 12 named prime grants. Representative FHWA work includes a $2.65 million Safe Streets and Roads for All (CFDA 20.939) planning grant awarded September 22, 2025, with completion targeted for March 22, 2030, supporting comprehensive roadway safety action planning and stakeholder engagement; a $1.4 million Prioritization Process Pilot Program (CFDA 20.262) award from March 19, 2026, supporting development of the "Building Equitable and Safe Transportation (BEST) Initiative" to establish data-driven project prioritization frameworks for regional transportation planning; and a $622 thousand Safe Streets and Roads for All planning grant also from March 19, 2026, running through March 19, 2031, focused on preventing roadway fatalities and serious injuries across the multi-county region. MORPC also holds a $2.5 million Federal Highway Administration award under CFDA 20.205 (Highway Planning and Construction) for the "Central Ohio Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator" project, which completed August 25, 2025.

The Federal Transit Administration represents the second-largest customer by award count, with 13 prime and sub-awards primarily in the Section 5310 Elderly and Persons with Disabilities Program. Representative FTA work includes multiple formula grants authorizing MORPC to serve as the administering agency for regional sub-recipient funding and mobility management, including a June 2, 2022 award providing $197,413 in ARPA 5310 funding for contracted transportation services to seniors and individuals with disabilities, and a June 10, 2022 Section 5310 FFY 2021 award of $857,442 (amended from $812,023) supporting vehicle purchases and transportation services across nine sub-recipients.

MORPC acts as prime recipient for economic development and environmental programs outside transportation. The Economic Development Administration awarded MORPC funding on July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025 to develop comprehensive economic development strategies (CEDS) for the 11-county region, bringing together public and private sectors to strengthen regional economy and support private capital investment. The Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 awarded MORPC $500,000 under the Clean Air Act (CFDA 66.034) beginning June 1, 2023 and running through May 31, 2026 for ambient air monitoring in underserved communities in Franklin County using low-cost particulate matter monitors and community advisory boards.

MORPC also serves as the administering agency for housing-related federal funding. The Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control awarded MORPC $649,000 (exact amount derived from multiple award notices) under the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction (CFDA 21.008) program, with grants running from April 18, 2022 and March 1, 2025 through 2025–2028, supporting lead hazard identification and control in privately-owned rental and owner-occupied housing across the region. MORPC distributes sub-awards under the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) through Ohio Department of Development awards, administering funds to local service providers for energy assistance and weatherization services.

The sub-award portfolio reflects MORPC's role as a pass-through entity and regional coordinator. Sub-awards include 58 grants routed through Ohio Department of Development (HEAP and HWAP), Ohio Department of Transportation (pedestrian-bike non-infrastructure, statewide planning), the City of Columbus (climate pollution reduction initiatives), and others. Activity peaked in 2023 with 32 awards, declining to 4 awards in 2026 year-to-date. Three awards face ultimate completion within the next twenty-four months, creating modest recompete exposure for regional transportation and housing programs. Combined dollars obligated ($63.8 million) substantially exceed potential value ($16 thousand), a measurement anomaly reflecting MORPC's role as a grant administrator distributing federal funds to sub-recipients rather than performing contracted services.