Rep. Brown Votes to Allocate $42 million in State Funds for Economic Growth, Community Development for Franklin County
COLUMBUS - State Rep. Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester) today announced that the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill (HB) 2, appropriating $2B of state funds for economic development and community investments that will help drive economic growth and generate opportunities across Ohio.
HB 2 includes half of the $700M from the One Time Strategic Community Investments Fund (OTSCIF), funding that was set aside in the most recent state operating budget.
“I am pleased that Franklin County is set to receive $42 million in funding through the One-Time Strategic Investment Fund,” said Rep. Brown. “These transformational dollars will support and uplift our constituents, businesses, and educational institutions for years to come.”
Additionally, HB 2 includes $1.65B of capital budget funding for the following state entities:
- $600M for the Facilities Construction Commission (FCC) to provide the state share of project costs to school districts participating in facilities projects overseen by OFCC.
- $400M for the Public Works Commission to issue grants and loans to local governments for road and bridge projects, freshwater treatment and distribution systems, wastewater collection and treatment facilities, storm sewer systems, and solid waste disposal facilities.
- $397.6M for state-supported higher education institutions to conduct construction of new facilities, major renovations of existing facilities, or basic renovations at public universities and their regional campuses and community colleges.
- $250M to support the Local Jail Facility Funding Program in the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC), involving the construction and renovation of county jails.
HB 2 now heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration. Community projects will have additional funding opportunities from the traditional capital budget and the remaining one-time funds.