ASHLAND – Four Ashland County projects stand to receive a total of over $1 million in the state’s Capital Budget.
If the bill passes as introduced by Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) this week, the $2.62 billion budget would include the following:
- $500,000 for restoration of Schine’s Theatre in downtown Ashland
- $300,000 for the rehabilitation of the Brookside Park Tennis Courts at Ashland’s Brookside Park
- $170,000 for the rehabilitation of Freer Children’s County Home into a multi-use community center
- $75,000 for improvements to the Loudonville Community Pool
The Schine’s Theatre grant would fund a new marquee and facade restoration for the theater, a project theater leaders hope will boost community enthusiasm for the project and spur more private donations.
Theater organization president Bill Sample said the grant, if approved, will allow the group to replace all exterior doors and to remove the security fencing around the theater.
“A lot of the feedback I’ve been getting was that people didn’t see anything happening outside, so they though nothing was happening,” Sample said. “Our curb appeal is killing us right now, and this should help.”
The theater organization also received $300,000 in a previous state budget, and that money will be used to replace the theater’s roof this spring, and then to redo the electrical system and update the HVAC system.
The state money for the city’s tennis courts would be added to private donations already raised by local resident Rev. John Bouquet, as well as money from the City of Ashland and from Ashland City Schools.
With help from the state grant, the Ashland County Historical Society plans to restore the Freer Home to its original grandeur and to make it a center for the community to gather for events and educational services. The Freer Home was used as the Ashland County Children’s Home from 1907 to 1989 and later housed non-profit and governmental agencies including the county’s juvenile detention center and Catholic Charities.
The legislature generally approves a capital budget every two years with the goal of funding needed improvements to public services and facilities across the state, including schools, roads and bridges, waterways and parks. Senate Bill 266 also increases the capital investment in opioid, mental health and addiction services facilities around the state.
Obhof is a co-sponsor of the bill, along with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton).
“The capital budget plays a major role in helping communities throughout the state, and we are able to make these investments because of responsible management of the state’s finances,” Obhof said in a news release. “I appreciate the work of our local leaders in helping the legislature identity opportunities important to our communities and to the people of the 22nd Senate District.”
Hearings on Senate Bill 266 began this week in the Senate Finance Committee and are broadcast live by The Ohio Channel and streamed at www.OhioSenate.gov. For more information on the Capital Budget bill process, visit http://www.obm.ohio.gov/budget/capital/.
