We will be compiling a rolling list of companies, agencies and groups that are offering support to furloughed government workers across Ohio but with a special focus on Northeast Ohio. If your organization or company wants to be included in the list, please email us. 

Utilities

 First Energy Ohio: Special payment options. 

• Ohio Edison: 1-800-633-4766
• Toledo Edison: 1-800-447-333
• The Illuminating Co: 1-800-589-3101

​Dominion Energy Ohio is offering "flexible winter bill payment options."

• Dominion customers who have an online Dominion account can make arrangements on the account (www.dominionenergy.com) or they can call the company at 1-800-362-7557.

Columbia Gas of Ohio:

• Payment Plans – Plans to help make home energy costs more manageable.
• Winter Reconnect Order – A program to have service restored or maintained with a payment of $175 plus a small reconnection fee.
• Low-income energy assistance programs available through local community action agencies or Salvation Army chapters.
• Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP Plus) – Option for households at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guideline.
• Budget Payment Plan. Waive late fees and extended payment options.
• Columbia asks that customers call 800-344-4077 to inquire about payment options.

Financial Services

United Consumer Financial Service will defer monthly payments for 30 days.

• Contact: 1-800-338-6507

Stock Yards Bank & Trust: Customers can apply for 90-day, no-fee, interest-free loan of $1500.

•  Contact: 800-625-9066

Fifth Third Bank is offering credit and loan assistance.

• For personal loans and credit solutions, call 866-601-6391 from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET, Mon.–Fri., and from 8 a.m.–12 p.m. ET, Sat.
• For mortgage loans and lines of credit, call 866-601-6391 from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET, Mon.–Fri.
• For Business Banking support, call 877-534-2264 from 7 a.m.–10 p.m. ET, Mon.–Fri., and 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. ET, Sat. Or email bbgsupport@53.com.

Summit County Treasurer is offering property tax extensions to furloughed workers.

• Request an extension by Feb. 15 by calling 330-643-8472 or emailing summittreas@summitoh.net 

​Lucas County Treasurer is offering property tax extension to furloughed workers.

• Contact: 419-213-4303 or treasurer@co.lucas.oh.us

Hebrew Free Loan Association of Northeast Ohio is offering interest-free micro-loans up to $10,000

Food

Greater Cleveland Food Bank, Inc.: Greater Cleveland Food Bank, Inc. is offering food assistance to all furloughed workers affected by the government shutdown.

Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank: Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is offering food assistance to all furloughed workers affected by the government shutdown.

Romano's Macaroni Grill: For every day the government shutdown is in effect, Macaroni Grill is offering all furloughed federal government employees a free Mom's Ricotta Meatballs and Spaghetti.

Potbelly Sandwich Shop: Government workers can get a buy-one-get-one free sandwich deal Wednesday, Jan. 23 to Sunday, Jan. 27 when they show a federal government ID.

Freestore Foodbank: Freestore Foodbank is offering food assistance to all furloughed workers affected by the government shutdown.

Senate Restaurant: The restaurant is offering to feed all federal employees and their children for free at both their Over-the-Rhine and Blue Ash locations.

Cincinnati Public Schools: Cincinnati Public Schools: Families affected by the shutdown may qualify for free or reduced meal plans for their children. Registration online. Questions, 513-363-0800

The Foodbank, Inc.: The Foodbank, Inc. is offering food assistance to all furloughed workers affected by the government shutdown.

Shared Harvest Foodbank: Shared Harvest Foodbank is offering food assistance to all furloughed workers affected by the government shutdown.

Mid-Ohio Foodbank: Mid-Ohio Foodbank is offering food assistance to all furloughed workers affected by the government shutdown.

West Ohio Food Bank: West Ohio Food Bank is offering food assistance to all furloughed workers affected by the government shutdown.

SE Ohio Foodbank: SE Ohio Foodbank is offering food assistance to all furloughed workers affected by the government shutdown.

Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio: Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio is offering food assistance to all furloughed workers affected by the government shutdown.

Second Harvest Foodbank of Clark, Champaign, & Logan Counties: Second Harvest Foodbank of Clark, Champaign, & Logan Counties is offering food assistance to all furloughed workers affected by the government shutdown.

Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank: Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank is offering food assistance to all furloughed workers affected by the government shutdown.

Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley: Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley is offering food assistance to all furloughed workers affected by the government shutdown.

Health

TriHealth: Will not ask for co-pays if patients alert staff they are a government employee at time of service. Billing for those services will be delayed until the shutdown ends.

Retail and Services

Tanger Outlets: Now through January 28th, Tanger Outlets is offering a free $20 Gift Card to impacted government employees.

The Cleveland Orchestra conducted by Music Director Franz Welser-Möst presented the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Concert at beautiful Severance Hall in Cleveland, Ohio, on January 14, 2018. For more than 35 years, this Cleveland tradition has remained a deeply moving and inspiring community celebration that honors the life and legacy of Dr. King.

Providing further significance, the 2018 concert also marked the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s death, and it took place during The Cleveland Orchestra’s 100th anniversary season. Music performed featured classical selections by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Verdi as well as traditional hymns and spirituals including “Down by the Riverside,” “Precious Lord,” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

The Cleveland Orchestra was joined for this stirring performance by concert host James Pickens, Jr., a Cleveland native who is best known for his portayal of Dr. Richard Webber on Grey’s Anatomy. The concert also featured guest soloist Ryan Speedo Green, called “a show stopper” by The New York Times, and The Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Chorus — an all-Cleveland community volunteer chorus — directed by William Henry Caldwell.

For the first time, WVIZ/PBS ideastream, a long-time community partner with The Cleveland Orchestra, recorded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Concert and has made it available online and for broadcast on all TV stations in Ohio.

This entry represents a portion of the hour-long show.

The Cuyahoga River is so much more than a fire that occurred nearly 50 years ago. It lives and breathes, supplies us with life, recreation, and employment -- along with so much more. In the first of a multi-part series, Rick Jackson explores the various parts of the river and how it affects our lives. In this chapter, Rick begins at its headwaters to explore the wildlife in the region. He then travels south to see how the Cuyahoga’s water becomes Akron’s water supply. Then, he finally stops by R.Shea Brewing to see how that water is brewed into beer.

The Cuyahoga River is so much more than a fire that occurred nearly 50 years ago. It lives and breathes, supplies us with life, recreation, and employment — along with so much more.

Rick Jackson explores the various parts of the river and how it affects our lives. In this chapter, Rick begins at its headwaters to explore the wildlife in the region. He then travels south to see how the Cuyahoga’s water becomes Akron’s water supply. Then, he finally stops by R.Shea Brewing to see how that water is brewed into beer.

In Ohio and nationally, there’s a mismatch between in-demand jobs and workers trained to fill them.

By the year 2025, 60 percent of Americans will need credentials beyond a high school diploma – whether a college degree or high-skills training, according to Lumina Foundation's 2019 Strong Nation report. However, the report found fewer than 45 percent of Ohioans have the right kind of training to fill them.

In this series, we talk with CEOs of Ohio companies who rely on a well-trained workforce. We explore well-paying and good growth positions that require post-secondary education but not necessarily a college degree.

Tom Zenty, CEO University Hospitals

Kyle Dreyfuss Wells, CEO Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

Christopher Mapes, CEO Lincoln Electric

Michael Lehane, Business Agent Intl Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 27

Visit the homepage for ideastream's American Graduate Getting to Work additional resources.