Richardson, 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 Representative 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 for the residents of my district,” said Richardson. “With these state dollars we will help build a brighter future by providing necessary and critical improvements to the district’s economy and infrastructure!”  

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

• $12.5 million to the Transportation Research Center for upgrades to their Impact Lab, helping secure TRC as the proving ground for automotive innovation;
• $1.6 million for classroom and building renovations at Marion Technical College to meet the growing demands for a qualified workforce;
• $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; 
• $49,849 to establish an ADA friendly walking path around the Richwood Independent Fairgrounds;
• $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; 
• $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.

In addition to these local 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.

These investments will be incorporated as part of the greater State Capital Budget bill, a two-year construction budget for capital improvement projects.