Lake County Times

Following concurrent votes in the Ohio House and Senate, House Bill 2, which contains the state’s Capital Improvement Budget as well as Ohio’s one-time Strategic Community Investment Fund, has been signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine, announced State Representative Jamie Callender (R-Concord). Among the projects successfully included in House Bill 2 are funds for improvements to water infrastructure in Concord, the Alliance for Working Together in Mentor, and the Lake Metroparks.

Created as part of House Bill 33 (135th General Assembly), the one-time Strategic Community Investment Fund is a $700 million fund to support major projects across Ohio that would make long-term impacts on communities. Lake County will receive over $8.7 million to fund 12 projects, including:

$1 million for a new fire station in Mentor;

$500,000 for a waterline extension in Concord; and

$500,000 to support Phase III of the Lake Metroparks Lakefront Trail.

“Thanks to Representative Callender’s support, Lake Metroparks will be able to continue work on the amazing 2-mile lakefront trail between Painesville Twp and Fairport Harbor,” said Paul Palagyi, Executive Director of Lake Metroparks. “This funding will help build Phase III of the trail which, when complete, will provide access to our greatest natural resource – Lake Erie.”

“We thank and appreciate the support of State Representative Callender and State Senator Cirino for their investment in our community,” said Amy Lucci, Concord Township Trustee.

Also included as part of the Strategic Community Investment Fund are projects that will impact northeast Ohio, including:

$7 million for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame;

$2 million for the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo; and

$365,000 to build an interactive media lab at the Cleveland Institute of Art.

“We are so grateful to the Ohio General Assembly for their support and investment in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s historic museum expansion,” said Greg Harris, Executive Director of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. “This project will transform the museum, community, lakefront, and continue to drive economic growth which benefits all Ohio. More than half a million visitors are drawn to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame each year generating $225 million and supporting 1,800 Ohio jobs.”

In total, Northeast Ohio will receive over $100 million from the one-time Strategic Community Investment Fund.

Totaling over $3.5 billion, the State’s Capital Improvement Budget covers projects across the state ranging from supporting Ohio’s public and community colleges to its park system and local community projects. In addition to Lakeland Community College’s $4.1 million allocation several Lake County projects received funding including:

$500,000 for the Alliance for Working Together;

$500,000 in additional funding for the Lake Metroparks Lakefront Trail; and

$300,000 for improvements at Mentor Marina.

“AWT is extremely grateful for Representative Callender’s past and ongoing leadership and support of our efforts to attract both youth and adults into rewarding careers in manufacturing,” said Teresa Simons Executive Director of AWT.

Other projects funded as part of the State’s Capital Improvement Budget include:

$4.6 million for Severance Music Center;

$1 million for renovations at Cleveland Institute of Music’s Kulas Hall;

and $1 million for Science Education Galleries at Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

“The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is completing a once-in-a-generation transformation of its campus connecting families throughout state region natural world,” said Sonia Winner President CEO Cleveland Museum Natural History. “When project completed December we present natural history museum like no other extremely grateful State tremendous investment transformation.”

“House Bill 2 represents a historic investment into Ohio’s infrastructure workforce local communities,” said Callender. “These projects improve lives countless Ohioans ensuring access training high paying jobs world class arts culture public spaces pass along children grandchildren.”