$3.5M in Butler County projects one step closer to approval

In a pretty fast track, the state’s $2.6 billion capital budget was approved with very little opposition just three weeks after its introduction in the Ohio Senate.

Senate Bill 310 passed through the Ohio Senate just eight days after it was introduced on April 12, and passed through the Ohio House in just 10 days. Now it goes to Ohio Gov. John Kasich for his signature. Out of the entire General Assembly, only two lawmakers cast a “no” vote opposing the bill — one in the Senate and one in the House.

Butler County will see $3.5 million of those funds that will collectively leverage eight projects totalling more than $45 million.

Butler County projects set to receive state funding include:

$1 million for the second phase of Butler Tech's BioScience Center. This project will help construct an addition to the current bioscience building in West Chester Twp.

$1 million for road improvements at the Champion Mill Sports Complex development. The project would partially fund an effort to resurface and add traffic capacity to North B Street and reconfigure multiple intersections in the area. It's a joint project between the city of Hamilton and Champion LLC.

$500,000 for Voice of America Athletic Complex's field house building and grounds. The project will construct the field house building, concession areas, maintenance storage space and revenue-generating meeting space at the West Chester Twp. park.

$400,000 for the Genesis Center of Excellence in Hamilton. This project will house an outpatient treatment program specializing in the treatment of addiction and psychiatric conditions.

$300,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of West Chester/Liberty building campaign. The funding will help in the construction of a 30,000-square-foot facility in West Chester Twp. that will serve students in grades two through high school.

$175,000 for the bike/pedestrian trail at Rentschler Forest. The funds will help pay for the construction of about 2.1 miles of bike and pedestrian trail at Rentschler Forest MetroPark in Fairfield Twp.

$75,000 for the Caroline Scott Harrison Memorial in Oxford. This funding will help pay for the installation of a bronze sculpture of Caroline Scott Harrison, develop a Caroline Scott Harrison mini-museum at the Oxford Community Arts Center, and hold the annual Women in Leadership Symposium.

$50,000 for the Trenton Community Park Amphitheater. The project will help pay for the construction costs for the amphitheater cover and attached building.

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About the Author

Michael D. Pitman

Michael D. Pitman has been a reporter in southwest Ohio since 1999. He's covered local governments in Warren and Butler counties, as well as state and national issues. He currently covers the cities of Fairfield and Hamilton.