Members of Congress are able to submit a very limited number of qualified, local projects to the Appropriations Committee for consideration of targeted federal funds. The full details of the selected request are required to be posted publicly on my website to ensure full transparency. Below you can find all necessary information submitted by a requesting organization.
FY'27
Requestor:
City of Lorain– Public Safety Equipment Modernization Project
Description: Lorain, Ohio, home to 65,211 residents, has experienced a concerning rise in violent crime, particularly in homicides, underscoring significant public safety challenges within the community. Between January and December 2025, the city reported 10 homicides, resulting in a murder rate of approximately 15.18 per 100,000 residents—substantially higher than the national average of 3.62 per 100,000. This project will support the integration of cloud-based real-time call monitoring technology that will be integrated multi-jurisdictionally. Lorain has documented 390 “shots fired” or shooting-related calls for service from January through December 2025; these incidents often require rapid information gathering, coordinated response across agencies, and the ability to analyze real-time intelligence to identify suspects, vehicles, and patterns of activity. This modern cloud-based technology will allow the City of Lorain to monitor “shots fired” incidents and other violent crimes in real-time with law enforcement partners in Amherst and Sheffield Village, OH to improve response times and expand community policing strategies aimed at reducing rates of violent crime.
Request: $150,000
Federal Nexus
Henry County Hospital– MRI Project
Description: Henry County Hospital, located in Napoleon, Ohio, is the main healthcare provider for Henry County and surrounding communities in northwest Ohio. A 25-bed Critical Access Hospital, it employs over 300 people and provides primary care and a wide range of specialty and outpatient services, including cardiology, orthopedics, oncology, pulmonology, general surgery, women’s health, rehabilitation services, and medical imaging. In 2024, Henry County Hospital reported over 68,000 outpatient visits and nearly 300 inpatient admissions. Henry County Hospital has received recognition for quality, including the Silver Award from The Partnership for Excellence (an Ohio quality award).
As a county-operated hospital in a rural area, Henry County Hospital has limited local revenue and thin operating margins that make it difficult to finance major diagnostic equipment purchases.
Henry County Hospital’s MRI project will benefit Ohioans in the 5th district by improving their access to advanced diagnostic imaging in a rural region where patients currently face delays and added travel burdens to obtain MRI services. By establishing reliable, on-site MRI capability, the project will help clinicians make faster, better-informed decisions for patients presenting with conditions where an MRI is clinically important to support earlier diagnoses, timely treatment planning, and improved continuity of care.
This investment will produce a substantial community benefit by reducing avoidable transfers and repeat imaging, limiting unnecessary travel for patients and families, and strengthening Henry County Hospital’s capacity to serve as the region’s sole care provider.
Request: $2,000,000
Federal Nexus
Lorain County Health & Dentistry– Southeast Lorain Dental Expansion
Description: The proposed renovation and expansion of the Lorain County Health & Dentistry Grove Avenue facility addresses a critical public health gap by increasing dental capacity, upgrading clinical infrastructure, and modernizing patient and staff spaces. In partnership with Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), the site will serve as a clinical training hub integrating primary and oral healthcare. Located in Southeast Lorain—designated an “oral health desert” and Dental Health Professional Shortage Area—the project will improve access to care while supporting economic growth through construction jobs and at least five new permanent healthcare positions.
Southeast Lorain residents face significant barriers to dental care, including limited transportation and a lack of nearby providers, particularly those accepting Medicaid or offering sliding-fee scales. With most patients living at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, these challenges lead to missed appointments and worsening health disparities. Expanding services locally will improve outcomes while creating accessible healthcare jobs within the community.
Currently, one in five children in high-need areas of Lorain County suffers from untreated tooth decay, and many residents rely on emergency departments for preventable dental issues. The expansion will reduce these inefficiencies, ease long wait times at existing facilities, and establish a workforce pipeline through NEOMED by training and retaining providers in the area. Overall, the project will enhance care access, strengthen the local workforce, and improve long-term community health.
Request: $1,000,000
Federal Nexus.
City of Elyria– Elyria Southeast Interceptor Sewer Project – Phase 2 (Chestnut Commons Infrastructure Project)
Description: The Southeast Interceptor Sewer Project – Phase 2 will construct a critical extension of Elyria’s sanitary sewer interceptor in the southeastern portion of the city near East River Road, Dewhurst Road, and Haines Street. This infrastructure improvement will relieve pressure on an outdated residential sewer system that currently serves both residential and commercial properties but was never designed to handle modern development or commercial flows.
The interceptor expansion will support the Chestnut Commons development area and surrounding corridors, unlocking significant residential and commercial growth while improving sewer reliability for existing residents. The project will also address environmental and public health concerns by allowing properties currently relying on aging septic systems to connect to municipal sewer infrastructure.
The total cost of the Southeast Interceptor Sewer Project is approximately $5.5 million, which will be implemented in multiple phases to expand sanitary sewer capacity in the southeastern portion of the City of Elyria. The City previously secured $1 million in federal funding to initiate Phase 1 of the interceptor construction, and this request will help complete the remaining phases of the project.
This project will support more than 1,300 planned housing units and unlock over $150 million in private investment in the Chestnut Ridge development area. Federal investment will help the City of Elyria expand critical infrastructure while protecting ratepayers from significant costs associated with federally mandated sewer upgrades.
Request: $2,000,000
Federal Nexus
City of Elyria– East Falls Riverwalk Stabilization and Infrastructure Improvement Project
Description: The East Falls Riverwalk is a popular public gathering space that provides scenic views of the Black River while connecting residents and visitors to downtown businesses, parks, and community events. Over time, aging infrastructure, erosion, and drainage issues have created structural concerns along portions of the Riverwalk that must be addressed to ensure the safety and long-term usability of this important public amenity.
Funding will allow the city to stabilize the ground surrounding the Riverwalk and replace aging structural components including beams, footers, and decking. The project will also address long-standing drainage issues that contribute to erosion and infrastructure deterioration along the riverbank. These improvements will protect the Riverwalk from further damage, improve pedestrian safety and accessibility, and enhance the surrounding downtown environment. Federal support will allow the city to preserve a key community asset while supporting economic activity and tourism in Elyria’s historic riverfront district.
Request: $1,000,000
Federal Nexus
Lorain Port Authority– Black River Landing Waterfront Public Facility Redevelopment
Description: Phase 1-B of the Black River Landing Public Facility Redevelopment — the final investment needed to fully activate one of Northeast Ohio’s most visited public waterfront destinations. Black River Landing is Lorain County’s largest visitor destination and biggest economic driver of tourism in the City of Lorain as the community reinvents itself from the loss of the manufacturing base. Black River Landing draws more than 150,000 people annually — with nearly 35% coming from outside the county. It is a proven regional economic engine, generating hotel stays, restaurant visits, retail spending, and local employment with every event. Phase 1-B — the Peel Building, entrance and plaza loading area — is the infrastructure that transforms the venue from a seasonal draw into a 365-day-a-year asset. Without this venue, the City would not have seen the private investment into a hotel, event space, restaurants and bars. Our local foundations and nonprofits participate in all of the events that we host, some as cohosts or sponsors while other host their own events.
Request: $1,000,000
Federal Nexus
Village of North Baltimore– Westhaven Community Health Clinic
Description: Village of North Baltimore proposes to renovate and repurpose vacant space formerly used as a senior center at 514 W. Water St, North Baltimore, OH into a community health clinic. The clinic will provide primary care, behavioral health services, preventive screenings, and chronic disease management to residents of North Baltimore and surrounding rural communities, including residents of Westhaven Senior Apartments.
This project addresses a significant rural healthcare access gap. Approximately 200 local residents currently travel to Bowling Green for routine healthcare services, creating transportation, cost, and access barriers particularly for older adults and low-income residents. By leveraging an existing, underutilized facility, federal funds will directly improve access to essential healthcare services, reduce preventable health complications, and enhance quality of life for a vulnerable rural population.
Request: $500,000
Federal Nexus
Wyandot Memorial Hospital– Wyandot Connected Care Project
Description: The Wyandot Connected Care project will expand telehealth services across Wyandot Memorial Hospital’s eight locations and four school districts in Wyandot and Seneca Counties—areas designated as health professional shortage areas. Limited access to primary, behavioral, and preventative care currently forces many rural residents to travel long distances, face long wait times, or forgo care altogether, leading to poorer health outcomes and higher long-term costs.
By deploying advanced telehealth equipment, the project will serve over 21,000 residents and nearly 5,000 students, improving access to timely diagnosis, treatment, and preventative care. School-based telehealth will help students receive routine care despite scheduling barriers, while also promoting early adoption of healthy habits to combat chronic diseases.
The project will reduce travel burdens, missed school time, and gaps in follow-up care, while improving patient experience and provider communication. As a one-time federal investment, it will be self-sustaining through insurance reimbursements. Because Wyandot Memorial Hospital reinvests all revenue into patient care, this funding is critical to enabling the project. Overall, the initiative will significantly expand access to care and strengthen health outcomes across rural North Central Ohio.
Request: $1,000,000
Federal Nexus
Fisher-Titus Medical Center– CT Replacement Project
Description: Fisher Titus Medical Center, an independent, rural, Medicare Dependent hospital serving Huron County and surrounding communities, is requesting funding to replace its existing and only CT scanner, which is nearing end of life. This CT scanner is a critical piece of diagnostic equipment that is utilized across emergency, inpatient, and outpatient care.
As the largest provider of healthcare services in the county, Fisher Titus serves over 60,000 rural residents, many of whom face transportation barriers and rely on local access to advanced imaging. Unreliable CT access can lead to treatment delays, increased transfers, and widening health disparities in rural areas.
As a standalone rural hospital, Fisher Titus does not have the financial reserves or the equipment redundancy of larger health systems. As the hospital’s only CT scanner, this equipment is essential for trauma, stroke, cardiac care, and rapid diagnosis. If funded, the new CT scanner will allow for faster, more accurate imaging, lower radiation exposure, and a CT fluoroscopy package, increasing accuracy for patients undergoing needle biopsies.
With nearly 80% of Fisher-Titus’ patient population on a government funded health insurance program (Medicare or Medicaid), keeping care local, decreasing the need for transfers, and diagnosing and treating individuals as quickly as possible decreases the overall costs to the healthcare system, making this a good use of taxpayer dollars.
Request: $800,000
Federal Nexus
The City of Willard– Water Main Distribution Improvements Project
Description: The City of Willard is proposing a critical water infrastructure improvement project to replace aging and deteriorating water main lines along several key streets within the community. The existing water mains in this corridor have exceeded their intended service life (80-100 years old) and have experienced numerous breaks in recent years. The city cannot keep up with the failures as they have occurred nearly simultaneously, despite the planned maintenance program. These failures have resulted in roadway damage, pavement collapse, emergency repairs, and repeated road closures along one of the city’s primary transportation routes.
When these water main breaks occur, they not only disrupt water service but also create significant public safety and economic impacts. Roadway closures and emergency repairs force traffic detours that affect local businesses, industrial operations, and daily commuting throughout the community. This corridor provides access to important economic assets, including the CSX service yard and other commercial activity, meaning these disruptions can have ripple effects on local commerce, transportation efficiency, and economic productivity.
The reliability of the water system is also critical for the City of Willard’s K-12 school campus served by this main. Water main failures in this area may require that the school district bring in bottled water to maintain safe drinking water access for students and staff during service interruptions. Ensuring safe, reliable drinking water for students is a fundamental public health priority, and replacing this aging infrastructure will help guarantee consistent access to clean drinking water for the community’s children.
Request: $2,000,000
Federal Nexus
Mercer County Joint Township Community Hospital– Mercer Health Childbirth Center Equipment Project
Description: The Mercer Health Childbirth Center Equipment project, is essential to sustaining and strengthening the long-standing tradition of local, high-quality maternity care in Mercer County. The Mercer Health Childbirth Center currently supports approximately 500 newborn deliveries each year, and demand for our services continues to grow.
While many rural health systems across the country have been forced to close their birthing centers, Mercer Health remains committed to preserving and expanding access to compassionate, community-based care. Through this initiative, we aim to ensure that families can continue to rely on safe, responsive, and specialized childbirth services—right here at home. Mercer Health’s birthing center serves not only the communities in Mercer County, but its reach extends to a total of three counties and 800 square miles. Over half of Ohio’s rural hospitals do not provide obstetric services, making Mercer Health the lone provider in a maternity care desert. This forces families to travel excessively far to receive pre- and post-birth care.
One of this project’s core objectives is to create a safer, more responsive environment for cesarean procedures, particularly in emergent situations. By upgrading surgical space and improving workflow, Mercer Health can better support mothers and medical teams during critical moments, ultimately improving outcomes and potentially saving lives.
Request: $1,000,000
Federal Nexus
Wood County Hospital– Increasing Access to Advanced Surgical Technology in Wood County, Ohio Project
Description: Wood County Hospital (WCH) has served as a backbone of the community since it was founded in 1951, following years of persistent community-led fundraising efforts. Since its founding, the hospital has continually expanded its facilities and services to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the rural, northwest Ohio region. Today, WCH is a 196-bed facility, employing over 700 individuals and serving a population of over 72,000 residents across Wood, Henry, Hancock, and Seneca counties.
Community rural hospitals like WCH serve as the primary, and often only, source of hospital-based care for their region, which is why it is vital that they are equipped with the resources to do so. Currently, limited access to advanced surgical technology in the rural community means patients may need to travel to larger urban medical centers for procedures or undergo non-robotic assisted procedures that have longer recovery times. These transfers create barriers to care, delay treatment, increase costs for patients and families, and disproportionately impact older adults, low income populations, and those with limited transportation options.
To combat these challenges, Wood County Hospital is requesting funds for the purchase of a da Vinci 5 surgical robot. The da Vinci Surgical System is a robotic platform designed to facilitate complex surgical procedures through small incisions, making it less invasive than traditional open surgery. While WCH has a da Vinci Xi that was purchased in 2018, an additional robot is needed due to the successful recruitment of new surgeons that will significantly increase the number of surgeries performed utilizing the platform.
Robotic assisted surgery is associated with lower infection risk, reduced postoperative pain, lower complication rates, and fewer readmissions. Specifically, the da Vinci 5 offers smaller incisions, less tissue trauma, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery for patients. Evidence clearly shows that all of these outcomes are associated with cost savings and increased quality of life for patients and payers, making this capital purchase a responsible use of taxpayer funds..
Request: $2,000,000
Federal Nexus
Blanchard Valley Health System– Improving Rural Health Outcomes for Findlay, OH, and Surrounding Region Project
Description: Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) is a leader in robotic surgery and even has a gynecological surgeon who is considered to be one of the best in the country. BVHS currently has 4 da Vinci Xi models. One of these models is 11 years old. The average useful life of a surgical robot is 7-10 years. All Xi models, including all of BVHS’s models, run on old technology.
To maintain its standing as a robotic leader, and continue to provide world-class care to patients, BVHS is looking to replace its oldest Xi model with the latest d5 model. The d5 model, with its advanced features and state-of-the-art technology, is an impressive upgrade from previous models and will further cement BVHS’s reputation as a robotics leader, positively impacting the area's health, economy, and workforce development. Benefits of BVHS acquiring a d5 Surgical Robot for the rural community.
Request: $2,000,000
Federal Nexus
Lorain County Community College– Multicraft Industrial Maintenance Equipment Upgrades
Description: The Lorain County Community College Multicraft Industrial Maintenance Equipment Upgrades project will fund the procurement and operationalization of modern, multi-purpose industrial training equipment that will be used by LCCC students to learn skills and earn certifications necessary to meet current and future manufacturing workforce needs in Ohio.
This project will expand LCCC’s workforce training offerings for technicians seeking certifications necessary to operate, maintain, and repair industrial machinery and systems used in manufacturing and production equipment. That includes mechanical, robotics/automated, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems. There is currently more demand for the Multicraft program than space available, due to a need for more training equipment. LCCC students (many of whom in this program are working adults looking to add certifications to further their careers) utilize the Multicraft program to earn the skills and certifications to fill much needed manufacturing, tech, and Defense-industrial base jobs in the district.
Request: $500,000
Federal Nexus
