More than a dozen local projects are being given a shot at a huge funding boost from the federal government.
On April 4, Congressman Greg Landsman submitted 15 Cincinnati–area projects to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration for specialized federal funding. Each year, members of Congress can submit up to 15 projects from their home district to the committee for consideration.
“Every year, folks send their tax dollars to Washington. What we’re doing here is bringing those tax dollars back to our region,” Landsman said during a press announcement. “Our communities know what they need better than the people who write the budget in D.C. That’s why the Community Project Funding process is so important. It allows us to invest in our own neighborhoods.”
The 15 projects selected to advance in the Community Project Funding process from Ohio’s First District cover everything from semiconductor production workforce training to bus stop improvements. See a list of the 15 projects below. Project descriptions are taken from a press release.
City of Cincinnati – Central Parkway Complete Street Improvement
Funding Request: $5 million
Project Cost: $20 million
The Central Parkway Complete Street Improvement project would remodel Central Parkway into a “Complete Street” – reducing the width of Central Parkway from 106 feet to 70 feet and adding in new turn lanes, dedicated pedestrian sidewalks, bicycle tracks and a greenspace median.
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Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority – Beechwood Improvement
Funding Request: $5 million
Project Cost: $44,028,459
The Beechwood Improvement project would renovate and modernize all apartment units and major systems in this multi-family, affordable housing high-rise property in Avondale. Improvements would include replacing boilers and elevator mechanicals, HVAC equipment, roofing systems, appliances, plumbing and electrical systems, additional laundry facilities, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and new energy-efficient appliances.
Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority – Bus Stop Enhancement
Funding Request: $3.25 million
Project Cost: $4,062,500
The SORTA Bus Stop Enhancement project would bring repairs and improvements to hundreds of bus stops. Fixes include repairing uneven pavement for wheelchairs and strollers, updating broken shelters and installing new seating, lighting and electronic signage.
Mt. Airy Community Urban Redevelopment Enterprise – South Gateway Improvement Funding Request: $1.4 million
Project Cost: $5.6 million
The Mt. Airy South Gateway Improvement project would rehabilitate a collection of vacant, blighted and dilapidated buildings and properties and fund a new, 20,000-square-foot mixed-use development.
Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority – Lunkenheimer Revitalization Funding Request: $2,772,000
Project Cost: $3,212,000
The Lunkenheimer Revitalization project would rehabilitate an abandoned 150,000-square-foot former manufacturing site in South Fairmount to be repurposed for future use.
Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) – Findlay Community Center Improvement Funding Request: $4 million
Project Cost: $60,917,715
The Findlay Community Center Improvement project would redevelop the existing Findlay Playground, Grant Park and Over-the-Rhine Recreation Center into a community campus. Improvements would include the development of a 51,000-square-foot community center with indoor and outdoor athletic fields and courts, fitness classrooms, aquatic facilities and multi-purpose community facilities.
Queen Mother’s Market Cooperative – Queen Mother’s Market Establishment Funding Request: $2 million
Project Cost: $5 million
The Queen Mother’s Market Establishment project would establish a brick-and-mortar grocery store in Walnut Hills that would primarily benefit seniors and vulnerable community members.
University of Cincinnati – Semiconductor and Microelectronics Workforce Development Funding Request: $2 million
Project Cost: $2 million
The Semiconductor and Microelectronics Workforce Development project would develop a research and education program at the University of Cincinnati to train more than 500 new students pursuing a career in semiconductor production and microelectronics.
Greater Cincinnati Water Works – Lead Service Line Replacement Funding Request: $910,000
Project Cost: $1.82 million
The Lead Service Line Replacement project would replace hundreds of publicly owned lead service lines on both private property and the public right-of-way.
Village of Terrace Park – Elm Street Water Line Replacement
Funding Request: $400,000
Project Cost: $500,000
The Elm Street Water Line Replacement project would install hundreds of feet of a new, secondary water line on a section that has broken multiple times in the last several years as a result of heavy traffic on Hamilton County Route 50.
City of Springboro – S.R. 741 / Lytle Five Points Intersection Reconstruction
Funding Request: $2 million
Project Cost: $6 million
The S.R. 741 / Lytle Five Points Intersection Reconstruction project would update a heavily traveled intersection with new turn lanes and safety features, better lighting and signage and improved pedestrian access.
City of Madeira – Camargo Road-East Phase 2 Improvement
Funding Request: $2.85 million
Project Cost: $3,565,000
The Camargo Road-East Phase 2 Improvement project would reconstruct 1.2 miles of a major corridor through the city, including resurfacing, new streetscapes, curbs and sidewalks.
City of Franklin – 12” Water Line Connection Replacement
Funding Request: $1,478,268
Project Cost: $1,847,835
The 12″ Water Line Connection Replacement project would upsize five municipal water lines to the appropriate sizes, ensuring an uninterrupted supply of safe drinking water to the community.
City of South Lebanon – Community Center Improvement
Funding Request: $812,797
Project Cost: $1,015,997
The South Lebanon Community Center Improvement project would renovate a community center that serves as a food pantry. Improvements include strengthening the structural integrity of the building, replacing the leaky roof, installing energy-efficient windows and repairing the parking lot.
City of Loveland – Cherokee Drive Water Main Replacement
Funding Request: $745,000
Project Cost: $1,617,200
The Cherokee Drive Water Main Replacement project would install thousands of feet of new water mains to replace the outdated existing water lines.
There is no guarantee that all the projects submitted to the committee will be approved for federal funding. The committee is expected to decide on which projects will be approved in the coming months.
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This article appears in Mar 29-29, 2023.
