Latest news with #OhioDepartmentofCommerce
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio unclaimed funds could pay for Browns stadium. How to check if you have any
There are more than $4.8 billion in unclaimed funds in Ohio, and state lawmakers want to tap that pot of money to help fund a new Cleveland Browns stadium. Senate Republicans have proposed moving $1.7 billion in unclaimed funds that had been idle for 10 years or more to a new account for sports and cultural projects, with $600 million of it earmarked for the Browns stadium. The Cincinnati Bengals and Hamilton County could receive money from that account for Paycor Stadium, but none has been allocated for the project in the current budget plan. The state returned $149 million to residents last year, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce Unclaimed Funds Division. You can find out if any of it might be yours in just a few minutes. Here's how. Ohio fund-seekers can go to to find out if they have any unclaimed funds. The Unclaimed Funds Division also posts legal ads annually in newspapers across the state listing the names of people, businesses and entities in those publications' circulation areas who have unclaimed funds. Several claims can be initiated at once from the website, which will ask for contact information and a Social Security number. Within one hour, the division will send further instructions for filing a claim and the documents required, which include a photo ID and proof of Social Security number. Claims can take up to 120 days to process, according to the Unclaimed Funds Division. The status of a claim can be checked at Unclaimed funds are lost or forgotten money that businesses and banks report to the Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Unclaimed Funds after accounts become inactive. The money comes from inactive checking and savings accounts, refund/credit balances, uncashed cashier's checks, stocks and bonds, forgotten utility deposits or last paychecks. The state of Ohio tries to return funds to their rightful owners through a variety of means. The division currently safeguards more than $4 billion in unclaimed funds, and the average claim is $4,000, according to the division. In 2023, Ohioans searched for unclaimed funds more than 4.3 million times and filed for more than 43,000 claims. This resulted in over $139 million in lost or forgotten money being returned to rightful owners. The Columbus Dispatch contributed reporting. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How to search for unclaimed funds in Ohio
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Unclaimed funds in Ohio: What to know about the possible Browns stadium funding source
The Ohio Senate wants to use the state's unclaimed property fund to pay for the proposed suburban Cleveland Browns stadium. The state has said it's safeguarding about $4 billion through its Division of Unclaimed Funds, The Dispatch previously reported. Where does that money come from? Here's what to know. Unclaimed funds are lost or forgotten money that businesses and banks report to the Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Unclaimed Funds after accounts become inactive. The money comes from inactive checking and savings accounts, refund/credit balances, uncashed cashier's checks, stocks and bonds, forgotten utility deposits or last paychecks. The state of Ohio tries to return funds to their rightful owners through a variety of means. The division currently safeguards more than $4 billion in unclaimed funds, and the average claim is $4,000, according to the division. In 2023, Ohioans searched for unclaimed funds more than 4.3 million times and filed for more than 43,000 claims. This resulted in over $139 million in lost or forgotten money being returned to rightful owners A page on the Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Unclaimed Funds website explains how to find out whether you have unclaimed funds, how you can claim them and how to submit a formal claim form to obtain the funds. Residents can go to to search if they have any unclaimed funds. They can also use an Ohio Department of Commerce portal to search as well. The division also posts legal ads annually in newspapers across the state listing the names of people, businesses and entities in those publications' circulation areas who have unclaimed funds. In addition, the division also sets up kiosks at various events across the state, such as the Ohio State Fair, where people can stop by and receive help to see if they have unclaimed funds. First, you will need to fill out a claim form. Depending on the type of funds the state is holding, you may be required to provide proof of address, proof of identification, a social security number or a W-9 tax form. You may also need the claim notarized if it is over $1,000. People claiming funds can upload their forms to a division webpage, where they can submit the claim form and any supporting documents. They could also mail the forms to the Department of Commerce's Columbus office at 77 S. High St. #20. Claims can take up to 120 days for review. If claims do not provide the necessary forms, the process could be delayed or potentially stopped. You can also check the status of your claim on the division webpage, Cole Behrens covers K-12 education and school districts in central Ohio. Have a tip? Contact Cole at cbehrens@ or connect with him on X at @Colebehr_report This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What are unclaimed funds? How check for missing money
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
3 firefighters honored for work in downtown explosion
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Not quite one year ago, first responders flooded the Realty Building in a rush to save those who were trapped inside after a gas explosion rocked the city. Now, some of them are being honored. Scott Thomas, Tommy Gibbs and Joseph Koziel of Youngstown are set to be honored with the Citizen's Award on Wednesday at the Ohio State Fire Marshal's Fire Service Award Ceremony. Each year, the Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of State Fire Marshal and the Department of Public Safety's Division of EMS come together to honor courageous men and women who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. This awards ceremony recognizes the bravery, commitment, and sacrifice they make every day on behalf of communities throughout the state. Also receiving recognition is Travis Birch of Newton Falls. For any friends or family members who may want to watch the ceremony, it will be livestreamed here on Wednesday at 2 p.m. Gerry Ricciutti contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio unveils new system for unclaimed funds
(WKBN) – The Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Unclaimed Funds has unveiled a new system aimed at making it easier and faster for Ohioans to search for and recover unclaimed funds. Now, Ohioans can search for and claim funds directly on the website, as well as track their claims, without having to leave the platform. According to the Department of Commerce, the state has $4.8 billion in unclaimed funds, coming from sources like dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, stocks and bonds, utility deposits or unclaimed wages. Since unclaimed funds never expire, the Division safeguards them indefinitely until claimed. The updates also allow business owners or holders (those who report unclaimed funds to the Division) to create and file their reports directly from the system instead of having to log in to the Ohio Business Gateway. Businesses are able to upload their National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) file, create a manual report, remit funds, and even submit a negative report. All businesses are required to report their unclaimed funds to the Division even if there are none to report. Division Superintendent Akil Hardy says these upgrades are in response to feedback provided by consumers and businesses. 'One of our primary goals in implementing this technology is to be more transparent by sharing where claims are in the process. We paid out $149 million last year to Ohioans and look forward to increasing that number with our new system,' Hardy said. Learn more on the Ohio Department of Commerce's Unclaimed Funds website. The Division will also be hosting free webinars and live demonstrations about the system: Business Owners Webinar – Wednesday, April 9, from Noon to 1 p.m. Click here to register. Facebook Live Demo for Claimants – Thursday, April 10, at 10 a.m. Live LinkedIn Demo for Business Owners – Thursday, April 10, at 10:30 a.m. Consumer Webinar with the BBB – Wednesday, April 16, from 10 to 11 a.m. Click here to register. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How much liquor Ohioans bought in 2024 and what brands were the most popular
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Data from the Ohio Department of Commerce reveals how much hard liquor residents bought last year and what brands were the most popular. In 2024, Ohioans bought 16.4 million gallons of liquor, which marks a 2.6% decrease from 16.8 million gallons in 2023. What construction, academic projects Ohio State trustees approved While last year was the third year in a row of declined sales, the department — which oversees the state's liquor agency Ohio Liquor (OHLQ) — noted the number of gallons sold in 2021 (17.3 million) amid the COVID-19 pandemic was higher than the norm. The number of gallons sold in 2024 still surpasses the 15.2 million gallons that were sold in 2019 before the pandemic. In 2024, about 4 million gallons were sold to restaurants, bars and others who buy wholesale — a 3.4% decrease from the previous year. About 12.4 million gallons were bought from retailers such as grocery and liquor stores, which is down 2.3% compared with 2023. Ohio's decline in liquor sales is following a national trend, with the Distilled Spirits Council reporting spending on liquor fell 1.1% throughout the country in 2024. This marked the first revenue decline the association has reported since it began releasing economic briefings in 2004. A 2024 poll by Gallup, an American analytics company, revealed that an increasing number of citizens believe that drinking alcohol in moderation is bad for one's health, and that self-reported alcohol use among young adults is trending downwards. Ohio lawmakers renew push to regulate imitation meat and egg products When it comes to what Ohioans did drink in 2024, Tito's vodka took the top spot by a wide margin, with 1.4 million gallons purchased. Completing the top 10 liquor brands that saw the most gallons sold are Crown Royal (815,455), Smirnoff (547,231), Jack Daniels (437,575), Jim Beam (394,519), Jose Cuervo Especial (353,846), Fireball (318,390), Absolut (302,460), New Amsterdam (265,177) and Evan Williams (241,884). Vodka was the most popular spirit amongst residents, followed by American whiskey (3.2 million gallons) and tequila (2.6 million gallons). While vodka was Ohioans' top choice of liquor, residents spent the most money on whiskey, which is commonly more expensive than other types of liquor. Residents spent about $439 million on American whiskey, $404 million on tequila and $361 million on vodka. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
