COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — For the fifth consecutive year, the city of Columbus is dedicating millions of dollars to youth programming aimed at keeping children off the streets and away from crime.
The initiative, which focuses on leadership, is part of an ongoing effort to ensure the safety and development of young residents.
Last year, the city allocated $21 million to various programs, with $11 million directed to city-funded initiatives and the remainder distributed to community groups. These organizations, which began applying for funding in January, must offer summer programming that achieves improved academic performance, health and well-being, or enhanced career readiness and workplace skills.
Mayor Andrew Ginther, in a previous interview, emphasized the importance of reaching adolescents and pre-adolescents who may not be drawn to traditional camps and programs.
"What we've started in the last couple years is funding some organizations maybe that haven't received funding in the past who have really targeted the harder reach adolescents and pre-adolescents," he said. "We really need to reach, you know, these 12- to 17-year-olds."
Of the $28.2 million in funding, $8.6 million is being awarded to 112 community organizations that submitted funding requests as part of an open, competitive application process held from January 13 – February 14. Funding proposals were evaluated by an interdepartmental review committee.
This year, more than 110 programs have been selected to receive funding. A formal announcement is scheduled for 11 a.m. in the Hilltop neighborhood. You can watch it at that time in the video player below:
"We know neighborhood safety is getting better," Ginther said during the announcement. "We have to continue to step up, to work together to lift up our young people, to invest in them and their families to make sure they're thriving in the years ahead.
"At a time when the federal government is kind of pulling back from some of their responsibilities, as the Mayor said, we are doubling down on ours," City Council President Shannon G. Hardin added.
Not everyone who applied for the funding received cash, including My Project USA. The group requested money for its Hilltop Tigers Soccer League and camps but didn't receive a dime.
"It's sad. It creates some struggles for us, it creates some challenges for us, but it's not going to deter us because our children need it," Zerq Abid said.
When asked why certain programs did not receive funding this year, Mayor Ginther said they simply can't fund everything.
"This is the largest investment we've ever made in summer programming and we can't fund everything," Ginther said. "I would ask the private sector and other public entities to consider some of these very worthwhile organizations, and they may be considered in the future."