Richardson, Ohio House Pass Historic Capital Budget

COLUMBUS— The Ohio House of Representatives today 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 local community projects, announced State Representative Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville).

The Strategic Community Investment Fund includes $350 million for statewide, regional, and local projects, more than $51.2 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 within my district for generations to come,” said Richardson. 

Due to ongoing conservative fiscal stewardship, Richardson was able to secure the following one-time funding for projects specifically in the 86th House District:

• $24 million to the Transportation Research Center for upgrades to their Impact Lab, helping secure TRC as the proving ground for automotive innovation;
• $450,000 to renovate the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Chapel in Marion, so that 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;  
• $218,000 to establish six new pickleball courts in the Village of Richwood;
• $185,000 to continue the restoration of the Women’s History Resource Center at the Marion County Federation of Women’s Club;
• $162,545 to create a walking trail around the Lee Manville Memorial Park Baseball Field Complex and build a new playground at the park; 
• $150,000 for electrical and restroom improvements to the Union County Agricultural Society;
• $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;
• $49,849 to establish an ADA friendly walking path around the Richwood Independent Fairgrounds. 

The following projects, located in surrounding communities, also received one-time funding:

• $10 million to locate the Ohio Center for Advanced Technologies at Columbus State Community College to increase training to meet workforce needs in the state’s growing semiconductor, biotech, electric vehicle, IT and other advanced manufacturing industries; 
• $10 million to create a two-mile loop for pedestrian and bike traffic to better navigate and connect downtown Columbus;
• $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 that will strengthen our state and its economy;
• $1 million to continue work on the Little Brown Jug Grandstand renovation project, strengthening tourism in the surrounding communities

In addition to these local and regional investments, the legislation also included 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;
• $250 million for local jail construction across Ohio.

Substitute House Bill 2 awaits a signature from the Governor.