Miller, Ohio House Passes Strategic Community Investment Fund

COLUMBUS—The Ohio House of Representatives today approved the historic Strategic Community Investment Fund, as part of Substitute House Bill 2, announced State Rep. Kevin Miller (R-Newark). 

The Strategic Community Investment Fund includes $350 million for statewide, regional, and local projects. 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 are transformational for our region,” said Miller. “I am proud to have championed the funding to improve the everyday lives of my constituents.”

Due to ongoing conservative fiscal stewardship, Miller was able to secure the following one-time funding for projects:

$10 million to establish Ohio Center for Advanced Technologies at Columbus State, preparing students for Ohio’s growing semiconductor, biotech, electric vehicle, IT and other advanced manufacturing industries; 
$10 million to the Buckeye Lake North Shore Park and Pier, maintaining Ohio’s oldest state park and popular tourist destination;
$500,00 to foster collaboration between New Lexington Schools and Hocking College, growing accessibility to a community health clinic and workforce training center for students; and
$125,000 to renovate the space used for the childcare program, allowing the YMCA to offer full-time childcare all week for kids aged 0-5.
 

In addition to these local investments, this bill also includes additional 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.
These investments will be incorporated as part of the greater State Capital Budget bill, a two-year construction budget for capital projects.