Leader Russo Announces Passage of the State Capital Budget, Securing Transformative Community Investments in House District 7

June 26, 2024

COLUMBUS - House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) today announced the passage of House Bill (HB) 2, the state's biennial state capital budget, in both the Ohio House of Representatives and Senate. The record-setting $6.2B investment makes appropriations for state-owned infrastructure, colleges, universities, and school districts as well as other community projects.

In addition to the $3.51B in traditional capital funds and a $1.98B appropriation for ongoing projects, HB 2 includes an additional $700M in state funds that will be directly invested into transformative community projects designed to generate further development & economic opportunity across the state. These state funds were able to be set aside due to the influx of federal relief dollars that helped to supplement the state’s balance sheet during the most recent state operating budget.

“Funding provided in HB 2 allows us to bolster the community projects most desired by Ohioans,” said Leader Russo. “I’m proud to say that House District 7 has received nearly $50M in state support for projects championed by constituents in our community which will strengthen and sustain local health initiatives, community engagement, and local businesses. These funds from the capital budget will support vital services and programs that make our cities a safe and exciting place to raise our families, expand the economy, and grow old.”

The capital budget includes nearly $50M for projects in Grandview Heights, Upper Arlington, and parts of Columbus, such as:

$20M for the Columbus State Community College’s Ohio Center for Advanced Technologies (OCAT) to rapidly scale training that meets workforce needs in Ohio's growing semiconductor, biotech, electric vehicle, IT, and other manufacturing industries. It will serve college aged and adult learners, K-12 students, and educators.
$10M for the Downtown Columbus Capital Line, a two-mile urban pathway in Downtown Columbus designed exclusively for bike and pedestrian traffic, linking job centers, amenities, greenspaces, and residential neighborhoods with an intentional people-first design.
$8M for the Heritage Trail Expansion to complete a link in the regional trail network by acquiring 124 acres of land from Norfolk Southern, connecting the Heritage Rail Trail in Hilliard to the Olentangy Trail downtown.
$1.5M for the Unverferth House Revitalization and Expansion Campaign to expand and improve temporary housing for patients and families receiving heart transplants from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
$1M for construction of the Heartland Music Incubator, a music complex with community resources to foster diverse interactions and musical enrichment for all.
$500K for renovations at the Edison Welding Institute to support advanced manufacturing solutions for emerging products, improving the cost competitiveness of Ohio’s manufacturers in global markets.

Other approved projects include:

$78M – Capital Improvements at The Ohio State University
$750K – Upper Arlington Riverside Drive Shared Use Path
$500K – REV1 Ventures Modern Innovation Center and Incubator
$300K – PAST Foundation - Advanced Manufacturing Fabrication Lab (Fab Lab)
$250K – Tobacco Treatment Center of Ohio
$250K – PrimaryOne Health Specialty Access Project
$200K – Grandview Heights Fire EMS Police Facility
$200K – Grandview Heights McKinley Field Park

HB 2 now heads to the governor's desk for his signature.