Government Spotlight | October 24, 2023

Columbus Region Capital Budget Prioritization Process: Submit Your Project

The Columbus Region is once again establishing a State of Ohio Budget project identification process for Central Ohio to assist our state legislators as they begin their work over the coming months. The Columbus Region is collaborating with several public, private and nonprofit regional metropolitan lead organizations to ensure that the capital budget bill maximizes the economic impact to our region and state. 
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To enter a project in the Columbus Region’s prioritization process, please provide the information requested in the questionnaire (see below) by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, November 17, 2023 to Gerard Basalla at gb@columbuspartnership.com and copy Nicole Laking at nl@columbuspartnership.com and Camryn Reitz at cr@columbuspartnership.com. 

Click below to access the Columbus Region Questionnaire and Office of Budget and Management guidance (the State of Ohio’s OBM guidance page will continue to be updated with guidance as the process proceeds).

Organizations completing a Columbus Region State Capital Budget Project Questionnaire may be asked to provide additional documentation after a review of the submission of the initial questionnaire. 

Columbus Region Capital Budget FY 2025-2026 Application Questionnaire
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If you have any questions, please email Gerard Basalla directly (gb@columbuspartnership.com) and copy Nicole Laking (nl@columbuspartnership.com). 

Electric Vehicle (EV) Manufacturing Workforce Development Grant

The DeWine administration and Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) announced the state received two federal grants totaling nearly $10 million for electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing workforce development. One grant will provide $5 million for training and credentialing for 700 residents of 18 Northeast Ohio counties. As part of that project, called “Charged Up,” ODJFS will work with the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network, Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition, and education and training providers to prepare people to work in battery production facilities. The other grant is for nearly $5 million and will support training and credentialing for 550 unemployed and underemployed Ohioans in Western and Central Ohio. The “Workforce Advancement in Vehicle Electrification” (WAVE) effort was created by ODJFS, OWT, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association, local workforce development boards and area employers and educators. It is inspired by other successful programs for underserved populations, including the Individual Microcredential Assistance Program (IMAP).

Ensuring That Franklin County Families Have Affordable Places To Live
Franklin County Commissioners authorized an affordable housing agreement with the nonprofit housing developer, Homeport for $1.35 million to support the development of a new 100-unit affordable housing project at 3775 Easton Square Place.  The funding comes from the county’s Magnet Fund, which was created in 2019 as part of a comprehensive affordable housing strategy, and is supported by funding from the real estate conveyance fee, which is paid when people sell a property in Franklin County.

Dez Bryant
Vice President of Government Relations
dezbryant@columbus.org