Summit County leaders gathered at the John S. Knight Center in downtown Akron on Wednesday for the annual State of the County address. County Executive Ilene Shapiro used the platform to highlight both new opportunities for residents and growing challenges stemming from recent federal budget cuts.
New funds to combat opioid fallout
Shapiro unveiled two new grant programs funded by the $110 million settlement the county received from prescription‑opioid manufacturers. The $45 million Summit Health and Safety Innovation Fund will award grants for creative solutions to addiction and related health issues, with the first awards expected next summer. A companion $5 million Summit County Community Empowerment Fund will target minority and disadvantaged neighborhoods harmed by the opioid crisis, opening applications in November.
Donna Skoda, a senior county administrator overseeing the funds, said the money will be treated as an endowment that can grow over time. “The money will live forever,” she said, calling the initiative a potential “game changer” for the region’s social‑determinants of health.
Tracy Carter, president and CEO of the Trailhead Community Health Foundation, praised the funds as complementary to her organization’s work, describing the announcements as “exciting.”
Technology helping county services
Shapiro also highlighted the county’s use of artificial‑intelligence tools to improve service delivery. The AI‑assisted system, called AVA, answered 83 percent of the 190,000 non‑emergency calls received by the Summit Emergency Communications Center last year and resolved 65 percent without dispatcher involvement, freeing staff to focus on true emergencies.
“Inspiring,” said Carter, noting the partnership between humans and technology.
Infrastructure and economic highlights
The address featured a roundup of recent county successes: near‑completion of the 135‑mile Summit Connects fiber network, the launch of the Summit County Pro Bono Collective pairing volunteer lawyers with residents, and ongoing investments in downtown properties such as the Polsky Building and the Ohio Building, home to county government.
Shapiro also praised the Polymer Industry Cluster for its continued investment and noted sewer‑infrastructure projects in Peninsula and Boston Township that support future growth.
Federal cuts create headwinds
Despite these advances, Shapiro warned that the county faces “significant headwinds” from economic uncertainty, rapid technological change, and a more dynamic political environment. Federal reductions have strained food‑assistance programs, with SNAP enrollment dropping each month in 2026 and a 19 percent decline in July compared to the prior year.
Reduced staffing at the Job and Family Services department has lengthened verification processes, leaving some families waiting longer for aid. “People are scared,” said Greta Johnson, the executive’s assistant chief of staff and communications director.
To mitigate benefit losses, the county operates a Benefit Bridge program that helped secure selection for an Ohio Works First pilot, assisting residents transitioning to higher‑paying jobs that still fall short of covering expenses.
Looking ahead
Shapiro concluded by urging residents to vote and stay engaged, emphasizing that the county’s future depends on the strength of its people, not on external forces. “Our future does not depend on the direction of the wind; it depends on the strength of the people holding the wheel,” she said.
Original reporting: Signal Akron — read the source article.
