Akron Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C.— On April 27, U.S. Representative Emilia Strong Sykes (OH-13) announced the 15 community projects totaling $39.9 million in Ohio’s Thirteenth Congressional District she has submitted for consideration in this year’s appropriation bill for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024.

House Appropriations Committee guidelines allow each Representative to request funding for up to 15 projects in their community for FY2024. Projects are restricted to a limited number of federal funding streams, and only state and local governments and eligible non-profit entities are permitted to receive allocated funding.

“This year’s community project funding submissions will make critical investments in our communities to improve the lives of people in Northeast Ohio,” said Rep. Sykes. “I’m proud to submit innovative and transformative projects that will ensure residents have clean water to drink, improve the infrastructure of our airports, keep our communities safe, empower youth, create good-paying jobs, revitalize our neighborhoods, and engage young girls interested in STEM. I am incredibly thankful to all the dedicated community groups across Ohio's Thirteenth Congressional District that provided requests to make a difference for our working people and families, and I remain committed to ensuring they are all included in the final version of Congressional appropriations legislation from this point forward.”

Listed below is a summary of the 15 projects Rep. Sykes has submitted to the House Appropriations Committee, along with quotes from the sponsoring organizations. Projects are listed in alphabetical order:

Akron-Canton Airport West Apron Construction

• The Akron-Canton Regional Airport would use this funding to construct a safe area for aircraft activity in addition to a new area to park aircraft. The project would ensure that Akron-Canton Regional Airport does not suffer any interruptions to its operations as a result of the ongoing construction of a new taxiway; without this apron, existing aircraft will have to move or else they will block the taxiway, impairing the airport's daily operations.

“We are thrilled to have the support of Congresswoman Sykes through the community project funding process,” said Ren Camacho, President and CEO of the Akron-Canton Airport.  “Congresswoman Sykes’ extensive knowledge of the airport and our role in economic prosperity is one of the many reasons the 13th district will continue to strive under her leadership.”

Akron Urban League—Community Crime Prevention and Youth Engagement Initiative

• The Akron Urban League would use this funding to promote alternatives to violence for at-risk youth through mentoring and life skills coaching, community leadership activities, and workforce development programming that will facilitate the finding, maintaining, and securing of employment opportunities. This funding will decrease the crime in vulnerable communities and keep our communities and law enforcement engaged and safer, which studies have shown will decrease incarceration rates and state and federal justice system expenditures.

“At the heart of social change are the voices of these youth, who bring fresh perspectives and bold ideas to the table. It is our responsibility to ensure that they have the resources and support they need to turn those ideas into action. By securing funding for expanded programming that empowers young people to positively impact their communities, we can elevate their voices and help shape a brighter future for all. We are committed to investing in the next generation of change-makers and creating opportunities for them to lead and grow,” said Teresa R. LeGrair, President and CEO of the Akron Urban League.

Barberton Lake Anna Visitor and Community Center

• The City of Barberton would use this funding to construct a new Community Center in the City's Lake Anna Park. In addition to serving as a hub for outdoor recreational opportunities and activities, the project will further connect this vital community resource to the nearby north-south Towpath Trail, and developing east-west Silver Creek Trail, thereby connecting local neighborhoods and neighboring cities into the heart of the city.

“The Lake Anna Park project is a catalytic project that will renovate and give new life to this historic gem in our downtown and help facilitate growth in the usage of Lake Anna Park.  We are very excited about this project and working with Congresswoman Sykes and her team,” said William B. Judge, Mayor of Barberton.

Canal Fulton Water Tower

• The City of Canal Fulton would use this funding to construct a new water tower and connect that tower to existing water lines, providing clean drinking water to approximately 30 existing homes that currently cannot tap into their current system.

“The project includes a 250,000 gallon water storage tank, water lines, and a booster pump station on the west side of the city, which will allow all remaining properties on the west side of the city to tie into the city’s water system,” said Dan Bucher, City Manager of Canal Fulton.

East Tuscarawas Streetscape

• The City of Canton would use this funding to reshape East Tuscarawas St. to improve driver and pedestrian safety by reducing the width of the roadway at pedestrian crossing areas. The project will help facilitate the rehabilitation of the eastern gateway into downtown Canton.

“This project will continue the City's downtown revitalization efforts by creating a critical connector from the downtown area to the eastside neighborhoods along the Historic Lincoln Highway. The project will provide streetscape elements including new curbs and sidewalks, brick accents, street trees, ornamental streetlights, and bike lanes. We are optimistic that this improvement will spur positive development in this area," said James Benekos, City Engineer of Canton.

The Girl Scouts of North East Ohio STEM Center of Excellence

• The Girl Scouts of North East Ohio (GSNEO) would use this funding to supplement state, local, and private funding for their 7,755 square foot STEM Center, which will serve thousands of students in surrounding communities as well as all 18,000 of GSNEO's girl members. The facility will include classrooms, a multipurpose room, a wet lab, a maker space/workshop, a tech space, an outdoor classroom, and a rain garden.

“The STEM Center of Excellence will be an 8,000 square foot building, inspiring visitors with a theme of Biomimicry - blending technology and nature. Equipment from hand tools to 3-D printers will let students prototype and manufacture their big ideas. Vibrant classroom space, telescopes, a drone launch pad, and equipment like CNC routers will provide opportunities to collaborate with local educators, to impact youth throughout the region. This community asset will help girls and youth develop their STEM identities at an early age and point them toward STEM careers critical to the region’s success. We are so pleased that Congresswoman Sykes is supporting this project in the Community Project Funding process in Congress,” said Jane Christyson, CEO of GSNEO.

High Level Bridge Replacement Planning and Design

• Summit County would use this funding to facilitate construction of a new, high­ level bridge between Cuyahoga Falls, OH and Akron, OH. It will allow Summit County and the Ohio Department of Transportation to replace a fracture-critical, 80-year-old bridge already set to be decommissioned while maintaining critical connections between the two cities.

“We are so appreciative of Congresswoman Sykes’s support for the High Level Bridge funding request. This bridge is the largest and most expensive bridge under the jurisdiction of the County. With the limited funds available for maintenance and new projects, we cannot take on this work of replacing it on our own. Federal funds for the design piece will provide much needed support in our efforts to complete replacement of the bridge in the coming years,” said Executive Ilene Shapiro of Summit County.

“The North Main Street Bridge over the Cuyahoga River, better known as the High Level Bridge, is the largest and most expensive piece of infrastructure owned by Summit County and is in need of replacement within the next 5-10 years. This critical connector of Summit’s two largest cities, Akron and Cuyahoga Falls, will cost $60 million to replace, and the Summit County Engineer’s office has an annual revenue of $19 million. It is vital that the County finds additional federal and state funding for the replacement project. I am very thankful Congresswoman Sykes recognizes the importance of the High Level Bridge. In addition to the economic importance of keeping the two largest cities in Summit County connected, a safe and open bridge is critical for recreation activity in the area with the bridge being the main feature for hikers and bikers of the Summit Metro Park’s High Bridge Trail,” said Alan Brubaker, Summit County Engineer.

Hudson Water Transmission Line

• The City of Hudson would use this funding to connect two major transmission mains within the City water system, improving the quality of residents' drinking water, providing increased fire protection, and connecting nearby residents currently without access to the City's water system.

“The City of Hudson has been working with Summit County to assist with getting safe drinking water to the Village of Peninsula for the past few years, since a number of private water wells within the Village have run dry and the residents are forced to truck water to their properties daily, due to limited ground water. This is a regional solution in northern Summit County and this transmission main will help Hudson to alleviate this water issue. The Nicholson Drive water transmission line will also promote economic development within the northern region of Summit County by retaining businesses and improving water services for companies that wish to relocate to Northeast Ohio from other areas of the State and Country,” said Thomas J. Sheridan, City Manager of Hudson.

Kent State University Airport Hangar Maintenance Project

• Kent State University would use this funding to address urgently needed repairs and deferred maintenance at the university's airport hangar. This facility is necessary to house Kent State's 34 single-engine and light twin aircraft – the largest fleet of any aeronautics workforce development program in the State of Ohio.

“Thank you to Congresswoman Emilia Sykes for including the Kent State University Airport Hangar Maintenance Project on the 13th Congressional District’s list of Community Project Funding. Kent State has the state’s largest collegiate flight program and the repairs to the hangar will ensure the continued operation and growth of this program as the university works to educate the next generation of professional pilots and meet the workforce needs of Ohio and the nation’s aviation industry,” said Todd Diacon, President of Kent State University.

Massillon U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Flood Control Levee Sluice Gate Replacement Project

• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Massillon would use this funding to replace the 12 flood control sluice gates under their purview, which have exceeded their useful life and must be replaced to continue providing safe, acceptable service. This would prevent flooding within the City of Massillon, OH, and would ensure that rain and climate events do not prove catastrophic to local businesses and homeowners.

“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Massillon would use this funding to replace the 12 flood control sluice gates under their purview, which have exceeded their useful life and must be replaced to continue providing safe acceptable service. This would prevent flooding within the City of Massillon, OH, and would ensure that rain and climate events do not prove catastrophic to local businesses and homeowners,” said Kathy Catazaro-Perry, Mayor of Massillon.

New Franklin Portage Lakes State Park Water/Sewer Project

• The City of New Franklin would use this funding to extend sewer and water from existing systems in the city approximately one mile to the Portage Lakes State Park, a 411-acre ODNR facility within New Franklin, and bring sewer and water to St. Luke Lutheran Home (a 71-bed senior center), the New Franklin Tudor House Events Center, and the adjoining lakefront/lakeside neighborhoods. All these facilities and entities are currently serviced by well and septic, with eventual discharge of effluent to the Portage Lakes. The funding will provide clean, safe public drinking water that will improve the quality of life for visitors, the residents of the St. Luke Community, and will improve and preserve the water quality of the Portage Lakes.

“We are thrilled to be included in Representative Sykes’ Appropriations request for funding of the New Franklin Portage Lakes State Park Sewer-Water Project. ODNR is planning a Visitors Center for the Park, and sewer and water infrastructure alone would take a sizable portion of the project’s budget. With these funds, a much more extensive facility and a better guest experience will be possible. The project will also permit us to address the needs of St. Luke’s Senior Care Center and provide service to our Tudor House Community Events Center. We are so pleased that Representative Sykes understands the importance of this project and is making our request for funding assistance a priority,” said Paul Adamson, Mayor of New Franklin.

North Canton Arrowhead Water Well Project

• The City of North Canton would use this funding to establish an additional water source with lower chloride levels to combine with output from the North Canton PWS' existing wells, in order to stabilize overall chloride levels in the water supply, and comply with Ohio EPA regulations. This funding will provide residents of North Canton with access to safe drinking water with significantly reduced risk of chemical contamination.

“The importance of the Arrowhead Water Well Project cannot be overstated. In a time when there are countless potential threats to a community’s water supply—such as the disaster that unfolded in East Palestine, Ohio earlier this year—further protecting our municipal water supply via additional clean water sources and deeper wells geographically spread throughout the North Canton area will better enable the City to continue providing safe drinking water to tens of thousands of consumers. We sincerely appreciate Congresswoman Sykes’ consideration and support of this initiative, as we strive to uphold and enhance North Canton’s standing as a community of choice for generations to come,” said Patrick De Orio, Director of Administration of North Canton.

Silver Lake Sewer Separation Project

• The Village of Silver Lake would use this funding to construct approximately 1,750 linear feet of new sanitary sewer and closure of the overflow into Silver Lake. The project will protect Silver Lake from the elevated discharge of chemicals it is currently experiencing, including nihates, phosphates, and other chemicals that are detrimental to that vicinity's water quality.

“This is a very important and necessary project.  Eliminating the combined sewer overflow to Silver Lake will improve water quality not only to the Silver Lake community, but also to others along the Cuyahoga River to which the lake drains,” said Bernie Hovey, Mayor of Silver Lake.

Summit and Stark County Sheriff Funding

• The Summit County Sheriff's Office would use this funding for the acquisition of at least two police cruisers for each law enforcement entity within Ohio's Thirteenth Congressional District for use during routine police patrol and response within their respective jurisdictions. This funding will provide crucial support for smaller police departments that, at times, struggle to provide their officers with modern vehicles that increase their safety and their ability to protect and serve their communities.

“These new cruisers will help law enforcement agencies throughout our region better respond to emergencies and reduce crime in their communities. We are pleased to work with Congresswoman Sykes on this important project, and to serve as the facilitating Office in distributing these much-needed resources to our local law enforcement,” said Sheriff Kandy Fatheree of Summit County.

University of Akron Polymer Research Facility

• The University of Akron would use this funding to establish a manufacturing incubator for new materials and house a polymerization scale-up laboratory, product prototyping laboratory, wet-chemistry lab, and space for testing and characterization of polymer and advanced materials. This funding will help create 1,200 jobs in the city of Akron and help accelerate Akron's robust polymer industry, which contributes billions to the region's tax base annually.

“As a public urban research university, The University of Akron is always eager to expand opportunities for research and to grow partnerships in the region. The Polymer Pilot Facility will expand access for students to hands-on learning experiences and for UA faculty and researchers in our globally top-ranked polymer science and plastics engineering program to make new discoveries that contribute to the international knowledge base. The facility will meet the needs of our private industry partners in the Regional Polymer Cluster, allowing them to scale up new materials, develop new prototypes and accelerate the innovation process. These opportunities and partnerships will have a positive impact on our students, our researchers and our region’s economy,” said Dr. Gary L. Miller, President of the University of Akron.

More information about these projects can be found here. Map of the project locations included below.

Original source can be found here.