COLUMBUS — A contractor being paid $3,500 a day by the state to administer grants to churches and community organizations closed its Ohio and Virginia offices and is now routing its invoices through the Assemblies of God New Jersey District Council.

David Castaneda, who had been handling We Care America's invoices, said the company folded after a number of grants ended in 2006 and all that remained was the Ohio contract.

"Actually, the company pretty much closed. Nobody is working there. It was a decision by the board," Castaneda said.

Castaneda, who had been finance director, resigned in February and David Mills, who had been vice president of grants and program development, left March 1.

Some We Care America phone lines have been disconnected while others go unanswered.

Meanwhile, 15 groups have complained that they have not received payments totaling $78,370 from We Care America, according to Gov. Ted Strickland's office.

Under the Taft administration, the Governor's Office on Faith-based and Community Initiatives awarded We Care America, a firm with ties to the Bush administration, a $2.1 million, 20-month contract beginning in September 2005. It was to administer grants to small churches and community organizations that were helping prisoners re-enter society, counseling couples and assisting troubled youth.

State Inspector General Tom Charles has opened an investigation into the faith-based office finances and contracts and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services began an audit last week.

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