West Lucas News

The Ohio House of Representatives has approved the Strategic Community Investment Fund, a historic initiative that will bring millions of dollars to the Greater Toledo area. State Representative Josh Williams, who represents the 41st House District, announced the news and highlighted the positive impact it will have on the region.

The Strategic Community Investment Fund is a part of Substitute House Bill 2 and includes $350 million for statewide, regional, and local projects. Of this amount, over $13.3 million will be directed towards Lucas County and the surrounding communities. The fund was established under the state's main operating budget passed in 2023 and includes excess funding from the previous fiscal year.

Williams expressed his enthusiasm for the fund, stating, "With these funds, we can really target areas that may have been passed up in previous capital budget years. We can now transform our communities to help establish a brighter future for the next generation by improving these projects that will give back to everyone in the 41st House District."

Thanks to Williams' efforts, several projects in Lucas County will receive one-time funding from the Strategic Community Investment Fund. These projects include:

- $3 million to Toledo Metroparks to establish a seawall on the banks of the Maumee River, protecting against natural erosion and critical shipping routes.

- $1.7 million for the upgrade of the Virginia Stranahan Trail and the construction of a new senior housing facility in Lakewood.

- $1.6 million to renovate and repair Toledo Fire and Rescue Department facilities, ensuring public safety.

- $1 million to the Toledo Express Airport for the renovation of the passenger terminal.

- $950,000 to revitalize Ottawa Park, including the construction of an open-air structure for the ice skating rink and a new bathroom, making it the only open-air ice rink in Northwest Ohio.

- $850,000 to provide significant renovation and improvements to infrastructure at the Toledo Zoo, enhancing accessibility to the animal exhibits.

- $650,000 to the Toledo Seagate Food Bank for infrastructure repairs, including the addition of a new freezer to double storage capacity for donations.

- $485,000 for improvements to the Sylvania Township Safety Training Grounds, ensuring local fire departments have better training facilities.

- $250,000 to the Toledo School for the Performing Arts for the replacement of windows in the original portion of the building.

- $100,000 to the Bons Secours Mercy Health Foundation to install an LED lighting system to illuminate the iconic glass city mural.

These investments in Lucas County are part of a larger effort to improve the state's infrastructure and public facilities. The legislation also includes additional statewide capital investments, such as $600 million for the School Building Program Assistance Fund, $400 million for the Public Works Commission Local Public Infrastructure and State Capital Improvement Program, $397.6 million for higher education projects, and $250 million for local jail construction across Ohio.

All of these investments will be incorporated into the State Capital Budget bill, which is a two-year construction budget for capital projects. The passing of the Strategic Community Investment Fund demonstrates the commitment of the Ohio House of Representatives to support local communities and drive economic growth in the region.