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 43201.
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.