$14M of State Funding set aside for Community Projects in Stark & Summit Counties

More than $14 million will flow into Summit and Stark counties for local projects in Ohio's capital budget unveiled Tuesday, with roughly half going to each community.

The capital budget, expected to pass Wednesday, is a state spending bill done every two years, totaling more than $3 billion for state infrastructure and community projects. Requests for community funding were due in March. 

About $191 million will go to community projects across Ohio, $100 million for school safety, $408 million for agencies using federal COVID-19 relief money and $50 million for local jails. Nearly $1 billion in incentives for Intel's semiconductor project, the largest economic development project in the state, also were included. 

For the Akron-Canton area, a $3.9 million request from the Akron-Canton Airport for safety projects was turned down. It had been a priority for both counties, but state Sen. Kirk Schuring, R-Jackson Township, said a necessary agreement wasn't in place for a bond fund to support it.

"We got them some money last capital budget," he noted, but "the airport didn't have the agreement this time."

What projects are being funded in Stark County?

Stark County received money for 25 projects. The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton is set to receive the largest amount at $1 million. The Palace Theatre in downtown Canton and the cancer center at Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital each received $500,000.

Other Canton-area projects include:

• $300,000 for the North Canton Dogwood Pool House
• $250,000 for renovation of the Timken Gatehouse
• $150,000 for the Powell Education Center in Osnaburg Township, honoring William Powell, the first Black person to design, construct and own a professional golf course in the U.S.     
• $171,000 for upgrades to the Wm. McKinley Presidential Library & Museum in Canton
• $300,000 for Meredith Park in Perry Township
• $250,000 for Junior Achievement North Central Ohio, a program helping young people financially and career-wise

What projects are being funded in Summit County?

The capital budget gave funding to 22 projects in Summit County. The largest — at $1.5 million — was for Blossom Music Center. There were also $1 million to improve Camp Y-Noah in Clinton for the Akron Area YMCA.   

Other Akron-area projects include:

• $750,000 for the Copley Ridgewood Trail
• $500,000 for the Akron Art Museum's Center for Creative Learning
• $500,000 for the International Soap Box Derby race track
• $500,000 for Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
• $250,000 for Summit County Fairgrounds improvements in Tallmadge
• $150,000 for renovating Akron Rehabilitation Services
• $100,000 for additional animal housing at the Akron Zoo

To view the statewide capital list, visit this link.

Source: Titus Wu, Akron Beacon Journal

Source: https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/local/2022/05/31/14-m-state-dollars-come-local-projects-akron-canton-area-capital-budget-oeslagler-ohio-community/7455360001/

Media Contacts:

Lori McCleese
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio
(330) 433-0063
lori.mccleese@ja.org

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