Community Projects — FY2027
Project Name: Biomechanical Skeletal Fatigue Research
Project Recipient: The Ohio State University
Project Address: The Ohio State University, Injury Biomechanics Research Center, 2066 Graves Hall, 333 W. 10th Avenue Columbus, OH 43210.
Amount Requested: $1,836,166
Purpose: The funding would be used to acquire a high resolution nano CT scanner to advance measurement science and materials, characterization of skeletal tissue, and other complex materials. This capability is essential for quantifying how microscopic structural features respond to repeated mechanical loading—information that cannot be captured with standard clinical imaging. Understanding these fatigue related processes is critical for addressing bone stress injuries. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will help reduce bone stress injuries, which are a major source of musculoskeletal disability and economic burden in both military and civilian populations.
Federal Nexus: The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes described in section 272 of title 15, United States Code.
Link to financial disclosure HERE.
Project Name: Youth Intervention in Central Ohio Initiative
Project Recipient: Lawrence Funderburke Youth Organization
Project Address: 1255 North Hamilton Road Suite 135, Gahanna, Ohio, 43230
Amount Requested: $250,000
Purpose: The funding would be used to serve at-risk youth and young adults between the ages of 10 and 25. The project would use a holistic approach – integrating financial literacy, exposure to career pathways, and physical wellness – to empower young people and particularly those facing economic hardship and systemic barriers. The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it would relieve strain on courts and law enforcement and provide structured accountability in a developmentally appropriate setting.
Federal Nexus: The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes described in section 501 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. § 10152).
Link to financial disclosure HERE.
Project Name: Huckleberry House’s Teen Crisis Program and Shelter
Project Recipient: Huckleberry House, Inc.
Project Address: 1421 Hamlet Street, Columbus, OH 43201
Amount Requested: $350,000
Purpose: The funding would be used to support Huckleberry House’s Teen Crisis Program and Shelter, providing immediate safety, crisis stabilization, and family support services for youth ages 12–17 experiencing homelessness, abuse, neglect, trafficking risk, or family conflict. The program offers short-term shelter, 24/7/365 supervision, trauma-informed care, and individualized case management, ensuring youth remain safe while connecting them to supportive services that promote family reunification, prevent juvenile justice involvement, and reduce the risk of chronic homelessness. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will reduce unnecessary detention, relieve strain on courts and law enforcement, and provide structured accountability in a developmentally appropriate setting.
Federal Nexus: The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes described in section 501 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. § 10152).
Link to financial disclosure HERE.
Project Name: Law Enforcement Radio Communications Equipment
Project Recipient: City of Columbus Department of Public Safety
Project Address: 77 North Front Street, 5th Floor, Columbus OH, 43215.
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Purpose: The funding would be used to purchase portable radios and mobile radios for police operations. This investment will improve the Division of Police’s communication capabilities, as well as enhance multijurisdictional responses during emergencies. By ensuring seamless and reliable communication, these new radios will help law enforcement collaborate effectively and access crucial real-time information. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because enhancing communication will enable a reliable, more coordinated response, thus enhancing public safety and security throughout our community.
Federal Nexus: The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes described in section 1701(b)(9) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. § 10381(b)(9)).
Link to financial disclosure HERE.
Project Name: Ohio Statewide GPS‑Alternative Infrastructure Research Initiative
Project Recipient: The Ohio State University
Project Address: The Ohio State University, 420 Dreese Laboratories, 2015 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210.
Amount Requested: $5,000,000
Purpose: Funding will be used to purchase research equipment, materials, and supplies; establish ground‑based monitoring facilities at multiple locations across the state; and equip a university research aircraft with the sensors and instrumentation required for airborne testing. The project will also support the engineering, scientific, and technical work needed to design, test, and validate a resilient navigation capability that strengthens transportation safety and infrastructure reliability across Ohio. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it addresses a growing national vulnerability. Modern transportation systems—including aviation, roadway travel, maritime operations, freight movement, and emergency response—depend on satellite‑based navigation signals that are increasingly at risk from interference, jamming, and cyberattacks.
Federal Nexus: The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes described in section 272 of title 15, United States Code.
Link to financial disclosure HERE.
Project Name: Ohio Quantum Link Initiative
Project Recipient: The Ohio State University
Project Address: The Ohio State University, 205 Dreese Laboratory, 2015 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210.
Amount Requested: $4,000,000
Purpose: The funding would be used to purchase equipment and technical services necessary to expand a quantum‑secure communication network across Ohio. The project will extend an existing quantum network by adding new links from Columbus to Lima and Columbus to Mansfield, enabling secure long‑distance transmission of quantum information for research, education, and critical‑infrastructure protection. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it strengthens national cybersecurity, supports advanced research, and expands workforce development opportunities in a rapidly growing technological field.
Federal Nexus: The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes described in section 272 of title 15, United States Code.
Link to financial disclosure HERE.
Project Name: Cassady Avenue Floodplain Restoration and Stormwater Infrastructure
Project Recipient: City of Bexley
Project Address: 935 North Cassady Avenue, Columbus, OH 43219
Amount Requested: $1,500,000
Purpose: The funding would be used to construct stormwater infrastructure and restore degraded riparian habitat. The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it delivers regional water quality infrastructure that benefits multiple jurisdictions. It mitigates non-point source pollution and nutrient loading into the Alum Creek watershed, supports the City of Bexley and the City of Columbus in meeting the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) permit requirements, and assists in attaining Clean Water Act standards.
Federal Nexus: The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is for the purposes authorized by Title VI of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.
Link to financial disclosure HERE.
Project Name: Lower Lights Community Behavioral Health Expansion Project
Project Recipient: Lower Lights Christian Health Center Inc.
Project Address: 1160 W. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43222
Amount Requested: $540,000
Purpose: The funding would be used to construct a 5,000-square-foot second-floor expansion for a Behavioral Health & Substance Use Recovery Center that will expand access to outpatient mental health and addiction treatment in Franklin County’s underserved neighborhoods. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it addresses critical service gaps for low-income and uninsured residents who often face long wait times, transportation barriers, and limited access to coordinated behavioral health services.
Federal Nexus: The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized under the Public Health Service Act.
Link to financial disclosure HERE.
Project Name: Capital Park Expansion Project
Project Recipient: Heart of Ohio Family Health Centers
Project Address: 5000 E Main Street, Columbus, OH 43213
Amount Requested: $1,721,761
Purpose: The funding would be used to expand and renovate the Capital Park clinic and to purchase an ultrasound machine and a colposcope, which will increase the number of patients – about 75% are women and children, and 87% are at or below the Federal Poverty Limit – receiving primary care and women’s health care. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will increase the number of patients receiving top quality obstetrical, gynecological, and primary care services in a Medically Underserved Area.
Federal Nexus: The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized under the Public Health Service Act.
Link to financial disclosure HERE.
Project Name: Franklin Park Conservatory North Star Master Plan Phase 1 Infrastructure
Project Recipient: Franklin Park Conservatory Joint Recreation District
Project Address: 1777 E. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43203
Amount Requested: $2,500,000
Purpose: The funding would be used for capital infrastructure construction at its public facility. Federal funds will support construction of a new ADA-accessible South Comfort Building providing public restrooms, changing facilities, and nursing rooms, with a lower level housing plumbing and pump infrastructure serving the surrounding grounds. Funds will also support installation of a site-wide stormwater retention system to meet City of Columbus runoff regulations, a North Courtyard bioretention system for stormwater capture, filtration, and groundwater recharge, and a rainwater collection system providing non-potable water to reduce potable water consumption.
The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will preserve a historic and nationally significant landmark while enhancing accessibility, sustainability, and educational opportunities for all visitors.
Federal Nexus: The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is consistent with purposes authorized in 42 U.S.C. 5305(a)(2), 5305(a)(4), and 5305(a)(5).
Link to financial disclosure HERE.
Project Name: Transit Stop Infrastructure Improvements Supporting Columbus City Schools Access
Project Recipient: Central Ohio Transit Authority
Project Address: 33 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Amount Requested: $550,000
Purpose: The funding would be used for the installation of transit shelters, digital signage, and upgraded lighting at transit stops serving 22 Columbus City Schools high schools. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it addresses critical safety and accessibility needs for students who depend on public transit to access education, protecting riders from extreme weather and improving stop visibility across underserved communities in Ohio’s 3rd Congressional District.
Federal Nexus: The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by chapter 53 of title 49 of the United States Code.
Link to financial disclosure HERE.
Project Name: Whitehall Sidewalk Connectivity Project
Project Recipient: City of Whitehall
Project Address: 360 S. Yearling Road, Whitehall, OH 43213
Amount Requested: $6,000,000
Purpose: The funding would be used to construct approximately 10 miles of new sidewalk and shared-use paths in locations where no pedestrian infrastructure currently exists. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it directly eliminates dangerous gaps in pedestrian infrastructure that put families and schoolchildren at risk of traffic-related injury every day, and it serves a community with a poverty rate of approximately 17%, providing low-cost, healthy transportation options for economically vulnerable residents who depend on walking and active transit.
Federal Nexus: The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by 23 USC 133.
Link to financial disclosure HERE.
Project Name: Demolition of Former Downtown Jail Building at Front and Mound Streets
Project Recipient: Franklin County Board of Commissioners
Project Address: 373 S. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Amount Requested: $7,000,000
Purpose: The funding would be used for demolition and site-enabling work of a county-owned vacant building. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will remove a vacant, obsolete building that serves as a barrier to growth at a key downtown intersection, enabling future redevelopment into a childcare center to address the region’s childcare shortage.
Federal Nexus: The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is consistent with purposes authorized in 42 U.S.C.5305(a)(4).
Link to financial disclosure HERE.
Project Name: Columbus State Community College Workforce Training Equipment Installation
Project Recipient: Columbus State Community College
Project Address: 550 East Spring St. Columbus, OH 43125
Amount Requested: $448,000
Purpose: The funding would be used to install clinical workforce training equipment in a new public workforce training facility. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it directly addresses a documented workforce shortage in an occupation the State of Ohio classifies as both in-demand and critical.
Federal Nexus: The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is consistent with purposes authorized in 42 U.S.C. 5305(a)(2).
Link to financial disclosure HERE.
Project Name: Whitehall Workforce Innovation Hub
Project Recipient: Whitehall City Schools
Project Address: 625 S Yearling Road, Whitehall, OH 43213
Amount Requested: $1,080,000
Purpose: The funding would be used for renovating and equipping an existing facility within Whitehall City Schools to serve as a community-accessible workforce innovation center. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will strengthen local economic development, expand workforce readiness, and improve access to community-based services that enhance long-term economic mobility.
Federal Nexus: The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is consistent with purposes authorized in 42 U.S.C.5305(a)(1), 5305(a)(2), 5305(a)(4), and 5305(a)(5).
Link to financial disclosure HERE.
Project Name: City of Gahanna Creekside Plaza Renovation and Flood Mitigation
Project Recipient: City of Gahanna
Project Address: 200 S Hamilton Road, Gahanna, OH 43230
Amount Requested: $5,000,000
Purpose: The funding would be used for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Creekside Plaza, a public facility serving as the City's central gathering space in downtown Gahanna. It would directly support construction of the lower and upper plaza. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it addresses critical public infrastructure needs while generating measurable economic development benefits.
Federal Nexus: The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is consistent with purposes authorized in 42 U.S.C. 5305(a)(2) and 5305(a)(5).
Link to financial disclosure HERE.
Project Name: Columbus Department of Public Safety Fire Engine Acquisition
Project Recipient: City of Columbus Department of Public Safety
Project Address: 77 North Front Street, 5th Floor, Columbus OH, 43215
Amount Requested: $1,300,000
Purpose: The funding would be used to acquire a new, fully equipped fire engine that meets current safety and operational standards. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will directly strengthen public safety, protect critical infrastructure, and support the city of Columbus.
Federal Nexus: The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is consistent with purposes authorized in 42 U.S.C. 5305(a)(2).
Link to financial disclosure HERE.
Project Name: Arterial Street Rehabilitation East Broad Street from Outerbelt Street to Reynoldsburg New Albany Road
Project Recipient: City of Columbus
Project Address: 90 W. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Amount Requested: $6,000,000
Purpose: The funding would be used for roadway improvements on East Broad Street, from Outerbelt Street to Reynoldsburg-New Albany Road, including widening for turn lanes, additional through lanes, curb, sidewalk, a shared-use path, raised medians, new traffic signals, and new street lighting. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will address and mitigate significant congestion and safety issues on East Broad Street.
Federal Nexus: The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by 23 USC 133.
Link to financial disclosure HERE.
Project Name: Havens Corners Road at Waggoner Road Roundabout
Project Recipient: Franklin County Engineer's Office
Project Address: 970 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH 43215
Amount Requested: $250,000
Purpose: The funding would be used for right-of-way acquisition to construct a modern roundabout at Havens Corners Road and Waggoner Road. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it directly addresses a documented safety hazard on a high-volume roadway.
Federal Nexus: The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by 23 USC 133.
Link to financial disclosure HERE.
Project Name: Morse Road Corridor Improvement between U.S. Route 62 and Reynoldsburg-New Albany Road
Project Recipient: Franklin County Engineer’s Office
Project Address: 970 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH 43215
Amount Requested: $5,000,000
Purpose: The funding would be used for improvements to the Morse Road corridor between U.S. Route 62 and Reynoldsburg-New Albany Road, including completing detailed design, acquiring necessary right of way, and beginning construction. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will reduce congestion, shorten travel times, and improve safety by eliminating conflict points and reducing crash frequency and severity.
Federal Nexus: The project has a federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by 23 USC 133.
Link to financial disclosure HERE.