Within the $2.4 billion Capital Budget passed last week, there is about $26 million set aside for development in Athens County, which state and local officials say will see a boon for local projects and non-profits.
That’s about $4.7 million more than was allocated for spending in Athens County in the last Ohio Capital Budget. And Ohio University was allocated almost $50 million — more than double what it received in the last Capital Budget — for all of its branches, including the Athens campus.
“Thanks to Ohio’s improving economic health and fiscal stability, the Capital Budget had room to address state and local needs in a way that will help enhance our economy and the quality of life in our state,” said Jim Lynch, a spokesman for Republican Gov. John Kasich’s office.
One of the entities benefiting from the increased spending will be Stuart’s Opera House in Nelsonville, which brought in $500,000 from the plan.
“It was a large amount of money for Stuart’s Opera House,” said Tim Peacock, executive director of the opera house. “We’re thankful to the state and our governor and our representatives.”
The funding will go towards the opera house’s larger fundraising project to raise money for expanding its lobby area, improving backstage production and creating a designated education center.
The $500,000 it received was the amount it applied for, but with so many projects available throughout the state, Peacock was unsure whether or not the opera house would receive the money.
“We didn’t know if it would pass, but it did, so we’re really happy,” Peacock said.
Ohio has only so much money to go around, and State Sen. Lou Gentile, D-Steubenville, said his district, which includes part of Athens, could always use more money for basic infrastructure projects.
“There’s like, $150 million in potential projects,” Gentile said. He added, the additional spending in this year’s Capital Budget was “long overdue.”
State Rep. Debbie Phillips, a Democrat, said she agrees, adding, because the last Capital Budget did not give funding for these type of community projects, these projects were “overdue.”
“I’m glad we got some investment in our region. I wish we could have money for the farmers market and their search to find a permanent location,” Phillips, D-Athens, said. “Given the restrictions that were in place, we weren’t able to this round.”
For the Dairy Barn, the $200,000 the organization received from the Capital Budget will be used as a part of a $1 million campaign to restore and expand the facility, said Jane Forrest Redfern, executive director.
The investment in the Dairy Barn comes amid its centennial and a campaign by the non-profit to improve the structure of the 100-year-old barn, as well as to bolster funds for programming.
“This is not going to be possible to do unless we’re gonna be raising the remainder, $550,000, for the capital budget part of campaign,” Redfern said.
“And we’re going to be looking for investments by the community to make this happen.”
The remaining $250,000 the Dairy Barn is seeking to raise will go to programming, Redfern said, adding, she appreciated the support from Athens residents as well as local legislators who helped to secure funding for the project.
“We look forward to working with them for the second 100 years of the barn,” she said.
The Capital Budget, House Bill 497, passed with only three legislators, between both chambers of the Statehouse, voting against it. There were 119 who voted in favor of it, according to Statehouse data.
“I think the legislature recognizes the harm skipped that last round. … People really understand there’s a need out there,” Gentile said. “Of course, it’s an election year for Gov. Kasich, so I’m sure that didn’t hurt their decision to put in community projects.”
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