Marion area projects to receive funding through Ohio's new capital budget

COLUMBUS — The Ohio House of Representatives passed Substitute House Bill 2, the state’s two-year construction budget for capital projects throughout the state, including the Strategic Community Investment Fund.

The capital budget will make historic investments in community projects, according to sate Rep. Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville).

The Strategic Community Investment Fund includes $350 million for statewide, regional and local projects, more than $39.4 million of which will be directed toward the 86th House District and the surrounding communities. The fund was established under the state’s main operating budget passed in 2023 and includes excess funding from the previous fiscal year.

“These investments will have a lasting impact not only on this generation, but the generations to come,” said Richardson in a news release. “With these state dollars we will help build a brighter future by providing the necessary and critical improvements to our districts economy and infrastructure.”

The district projects for which Richardson was able to secure one-time funding include:

• $450,000 to renovate the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Chapel in Marion so it may open to the public again;
• $300,000 to restore the George W. King Mansion in Marion. The mansion is located on the National Register of Historic Places and provides an attraction to the city;
• $185,000 to continue the restoration of the Women’s History Resource Center at the Marion County Federation of Women’s Club;
• $100,000 for engineering classroom and lab renovations at Marion Technical College;
• $75,000 to replace and enlarge the parking lot of the Stengel-True Museum;
• $218,000 to establish six new pickleball courts in the Village of Richwood;
• $49,849 to establish an ADA friendly walking path around the Richwood Independent Fairgrounds.
• $4.6 million to improve Ohio’s Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs so they can continue to provide academic recovery services, support mental health wellbeing programs, and continue investing in skilled and robust workforce centers.

In addition to the local investments, the legislation included statewide capital investments of: $600 million for the School Building Program Assistance Fund; $400 million for the Public Works Commission Local Public Infrastructure and State Capital Improvement Program; $397.6 million for higher education projects around the state; and $250 million for local jail construction across Ohio.

Substitute House Bill 2 awaits a signature from Gov. Mike DeWine.