The Ohio School Facilities Commission voted Thursday to approve $193 million in state funding toward nine projects totaling nearly $500 million in construction work.
Contingent on Controlling Board approval, the state funding will be combined with $303 million in local-share money from the nine participating districts, who must raise their local amount within 13 months.
The commission’s action provides funding for projects in the following districts: Ayersville Local, Champion Local, Chillicothe City, Cuyahoga Falls City, Firelands Local, Lake Local, Poland Local, Reading Community City and Southwest Local.
“This is a critical step in ensuring that our children are in new or renovated facilities that help support academic achievement,” said OSFC Executive Director David Chovan in a statement. “There is also a significant economic impact attached to today’s commission action – the construction work generated by this project could translate into both job opportunities for local residents and increased purchases of goods and services from local businesses.”