WASHINGTON (WKBN) — An Ohio funding package was passed in a bipartisan Senate vote on Friday, the second of two such packages needed to keep the government open. Key points in this package include increases in resources for border security, support for Ohio military installations and help to combat the addiction crisis.
The first bipartisan bill to fund half the government was signed into law on March 9. Friday’s package builds on it, funding the remainder of the federal government through the rest of the fiscal year.
The first package awarded $198.5 million and funded 130 projects statewide. Jointly, the funds for the 2024 fiscal year total $227 million and support 162 projects.
A release from the office of Senator Sherrod Brown details the collection of funding projects that have just been approved in the state, some directly impacting the Mahoning Valley.
In the most recent package, 32 local projects were secured across the state under Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) investments totaling $28.53 million.
Local recipients in package II
Part of that amount will benefit COMPASS Family and Community Service’s Campus of Care project to renovate a building for behavioral health care in Mahoning County. The awarded amount is $750,000.
The Direction Home of Eastern Ohio in Youngstown was awarded $239,000 for an expansion of its services in the form of a Kinship Summer Camp. Its intent is to provide respite, learning opportunities and family stabilization.
OH WOW! was awarded $1,450,000 for its tech manufacturing, innovation and design project, aimed at providing advanced project-based learning for training and education in various STEM fields.
East Liverpool was awarded $650,000 for its Business Hub project, to promote entrepreneurship focused on the arts and entertainment sectors.
As part of efforts to support Ohio military installations, the Youngstown Air Reserve Station was awarded $2.5 million for the planning and design of a new fire station. An additional $6.1 million was allocated for the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport runway rehabilitation project.
For the full list of recipients supported by both funding packages, click here.
State-wide investments
Falling under the subcategory of protecting Ohio communities, $8.5 billion is being directed to southern border security operations. Also under this subcategory is $125 million in funds aimed at tackling the fentanyl crisis. The National Security Grant program also factored in, with $274 million allocated to physical security enhancements and activities to nonprofit organizations – particularly houses of worship – that are at high risk of terrorist attack.
The bill also aims to support service members, military families and veterans by lowering housing and childcare costs in addition to increasing pay for military service members and defense civilian personnel. It includes funding of various amounts for rural health support, caregiver support, veteran homelessness prevention, mental health services and suicide prevention outreach.
Rail safety was a focus, with a $27.3 million increase for the Federal Railroad Administration’s safety and operations budget to help address rail safety deficiencies identified following the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine. The investment will also support research for the development and utilization of technology to prevent derailments and study the safety of long trains.
The bill also includes language directing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to continue working with state and local health departments to develop a long-term follow-up study of the public health impacts of the train derailment in East Palestine.
In efforts to support Ohio health care providers and increase access to care, the following amounts have been distributed:
- $390 million for the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) Program
- $25 million for the Regional Pediatric Pandemic Network
- $26.8 million for Poison Control Centers
- $519.6 million for the 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- $4.6+ billion to support substance use and prevention efforts
There is also an array of funding covering Ohio’s agriculture, natural resources and energy. Allocated funds aim at protecting Ohio farms from foreign ownership, restoring the Great Lakes, clean drinking water upgrades, and nuclear fuel security, among other projects.
