It’s not everyday that the Federal Government hands out checks but in this new age of federal stimulus funds being used to spark the economy, the Feds knocked on Kent’s door last week, saying they were here to help, and with a pocket full of $20 million with PARTA, Kent State’s and the City’s name on it we opened the door and let’em in. By now you’ve probably heard all the details of how Congressman Ryan’s Office and the entire Washington delegation went to bat for Kent and in this case hit the ball out of the park in Babe Ruth fashion. It was one of those once in a hundred years legacy moments that you can tell your grandchildren you were here to see.
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Here’s the reaction in the room when Congressman Ryan announced the Kent award:
This money will be a game changer. All the project aspirations for downtown Kent just got catapulted forward and should now be within reach over the next 2 years.
We knew we had a great project in the downtown multi-modal facility; we knew we met all the criteria for the funds but we also knew that the competition for Federal funds was going to be fierce. Seriously fierce. In Ohio alone over $550 million in funding requests were submitted and at the end of the day only $50 million was awarded in Ohio — $20 million of which was the Kent project. For that matter only 51 projects were funded nationwide and Kent is one of them.
How did it happen? It happened because of the power of partnerships. When we thanked Senator Brown’s Office for their support and they said that they were happy to help but they added candidly that the Kent project didn’t need much help, it stood on its own merits — it was that good. It happened because it linked education, research and economic development with transit and green technology and bike trials and sustainable planning all wrapped up in a public private package that promised new jobs, new stores, and new cultural opportunities not just for Kent but for all of northeast Ohio.
Here’s a panoramic view of all the partners:
We told the Feds that we wanted to put Kent’s assets to work not just for Kent but for all of Ohio. Apparently they liked the sound of that as much as we did. Here’s some great sources of information to learn more about these funds.
Federal News Announcement and List
Tiger Grant Awards
KSU Multi-Media Project Page
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For your information, previous news coverage on the downtown Kent revitalization projects:
Akron Beacon Journal: http://www.ohio.com/news/83843837.html
Clevelan Plain Dealer: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/11/downtown_kent_ohio_rising_phoe.html
Cleveland Plain Dealer: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/11/can_kent_ohio_become_the_next.html
Akron Beacon Journal: http://www.ohio.com/news/64701597.html
Crains Business Magazine: http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20091102/FREE/311029963
Crains Business Magazine: http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20091102/FREE/311029955
Record Courier Newspaper: http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4698205
Record Courier Newspaper: http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4773843
Record Courier Newspaper: http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4772064
Record Courier Newspaper: http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4772141
Record Courier Newspaper: http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4698205
