Latest Info for Locals

Could you use money to engage your members and the community?
Need some start-up funds for a special project that will promote your local in the community?
Strengthening the relationship between a local association and the community is a key element in building a strong and successful local association. Participation in community events also offers locals the opportunity to enhance their visibility as vital, contributing members of their communities.

Locals are eligible for a Central OEA/NEA’s Public Relations Grant of up to $500 once every three years. Central will fund up to 20 locals per year. The grant is considered seed money. It is hoped that the local will build the activity into their budget over that period and be prepared to continue the program after Central OEA/NEA’s initial investment.

Locals must have had a member attend the Central Representative Assembly, All-Area meeting or Area meeting, within the last 12 months, to be eligible for a Central OEA/NEA Growth and Development Grant.

Central OEA/NEA’S Public Relations Grant is designed to provide support to locals in engaging their members with the community. Grant funds can be used for a variety of items including, but not limited to:
Apparel
Awards
Banners
Buttons
Fair Booth
Involvement in a local charitable event Races
Yard signs

The following guidelines will be used for grant application review:
1. Grant proposals should promote education through the educator, local association and Central OEA/NEA
2. Grant proposals that enhance the local education association status will be given first consideration
3. Any items created should include the name of the local association
4. Central OEA/NEA’s name should be prominently displayed in any publicity and should be credited with assisting in the presentation of the project
5. Locals must have had a member attend the Central Representative Assembly, All-Area meeting or Area meeting within the last 12 months to be eligible for a Central OEA/NEA Public Relations Grant
6. Submission of a photo of members participating in the event or with the items, along with copies of news coverage (local newsletter coverage is acceptable)

To apply, click here.

On a three-year rotating basis, Central OEA/NEA will provide locals with a laptop or tablet (PC/Windows based or iPad) to assist with organizing and communicating with their members. We will provide laptops or tablets to the first 40 locals that apply. Locals applying after the first 40 will be at the front of the queue next year.
To receive a laptop, a local officer must complete this Technology Award online form by October 1. Laptops and iPads will be mailed to the address specified on your application.
Please note: Locals can no longer request a computer for Growth and Development Grants. Technology awarded to a Local Association via this award belong to the Local Association.

Apply Here

The following locals are ineligible to apply in 2020:
Benjamin Logan E.A.
Big Walnut E.A.
Buckeye Valley T.A.
Canal Winchester E.A.
Clark-Shawnee Local E.A.
Dublin Support Association
Gahanna-Jefferson E.A.
Greenfield Ex Vlg E.A.
Hamilton Local E.A.
Heath Ed'l S.S.A.
Hilliard E.A.
Indian Lake E.A.
Lancaster E.A.
Lancaster S.S.A.
Miami Trace Non-Cert E.A.
North Fork E.A.
Northeastern Local E.A.
Northridge E.A. - Licking
Northwestern A of Sch Empl
Northwestern T.A. - Clark
Paint Valley Loc E.A.
Pickerington E.A.
Pickerington S.S.A.
Plain Loc E.A. - Franklin
Reynoldsburg E.A.
Southeastern Local E.A.
Springfield E.A. - Clark
Springfield ESP - Seuss
Tecumseh E.A.
Tolles E.A.
Union Scioto E.A.
United Riverside E.A.
Urbana A.C.T.
Walnut Twp E.A.
Westerville E.A.
Westerville Education S.S.A.
Worthington Clsfd Assn
Worthington E.A.
Zane Trace E.A.
Zane Trace S.S.P Assn

The Local Emergency Grant Program was created to assist local associations with projects of an immediate or emergency nature. Community initiatives like school district levy or bond campaigns are examples of activities that align with the intended target of these grants.

These grants should not focus on leadership development or other association building initiatives which should be addressed in a Growth and Development Grant proposal.

Grants will be awarded on an as needed basis. The grant will be a one-time award and the awarded grant will be for one year or less.

The grant will be paid on a reimbursement basis. All expenditures must be submitted on the Local Emergency Grant voucher form. The voucher will require a separate page for each proposed goal and include:
  • a brief narrative of the activities for the specific goal;
  • the date/s the activities were completed;
  • an itemization of the individual expenditures for goods or services for the specific goal;
  • the itemized cost/s of the purchased items or services;
  • and, an attached sheet bearing the original receipts verifying the delineated expenditures.
Per Central vendor policy, unionized firms or suppliers, if available, shall provide goods or services.

The information provided in this reimbursement report is vital to the continuing improvement of the Local Emergency Grant Program; it will enable Central to assist in providing other local associations with examples of grants that correctly align with this grant.

If a local has a special need to receive grant funds prior to completion of an activity, advancement of grant funds will be considered upon request. Priority will be given to first time applicants, but this does not prohibit locals applying yearly for new projects.

Click here to complete the online Local Emergency Grant application.

Click here to go to the Documents Library where you will find the Grants Folder containing the Local Emergency Grant Voucher forms.

Central's Local Participation Award Program is intended to build stronger, better-informed Local Associations by rewarding active participation in Central’s programming, along with meeting other defined criteria. Local Associations that meet all the required criteria (see below) will earn a total award of $1300 annually. An initial awards payment will be made to Local Associations in January, with the balance of the award paid in June.

Qualifying Events:

Attend fall and winter Area Meetings* 100
3 or more Education Advocate Leaders* 50
Attend and vote at both OEA RAs** 100
Elect full complement of delegates to OEA RA** 100
Attend and vote at Central RA* 100
Attend OEA Treasurers’ Workshop* 50
Constitution & Bylaws compliance** 50
Produce and submit four or more local newsletters*** 200
Meet your OEA Fund goal** 50
Membership: 90%+ or increase by 3%** 200
Attend FCPE candidate screening** 50
Attend Central’s building rep training* 50
Attend Central’s presidents training* 50
Attend Central’s All Area Dinner* 50
Members attending Central’s Power Up Conference* 50
Members attending Central’s Diversity Conference* 50
TOTAL $1300

*Online registration via Central's website is mandatory for tracking local association attendance at events and determining monetary awards.
**Data received from OEA or Central OEA/NEA
***Submit to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Member Communication/Newsletter
Quarterly newsletters shall go out to all local members and share from the following suggestions along with any local news:
1. Central, OEA and/or NEA upcoming events for: PD, leadership development, diversity training, lobbying, FCPE drive, RA news, etc.
2. Local tidbits: such as meeting dates and places, a “contractual right of members”, something positive about one or more member or local committee
3. Share with your local’s newsletter editor that s/he should send a digital copy when sending to your members to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If you email your newsletters, please include your Local's full name in the subject line. Newsletters are due May 31st to be included in the balance of the award paid in June.

More Articles …

  1. NEA RA Delegate Scholarship
  2. Growth and Development Grants
  3. Central Grants and Incentive Programs
  4. OEA Units
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