City Announces Over $28 Million in Programming for Columbus Youth
Published on April 09, 2025
Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and Council President Shannon G. Hardin today announced $28.2 million in city funding for programming for Columbus youth, including $8.6 million to support summer program grants.
“We owe it to our kids to give them every chance to succeed,” said Mayor Ginther. “By providing them with structure and stability, and helping them to develop new skills, we are building a brighter tomorrow while ensuring the kind of growth that is both dynamic and inclusive.”
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 then evaluated by an interdepartmental review committee which ultimately devised the recommended allocations.
Programs receiving financial support are designed to improve academic performance, health and wellbeing and/or enhance career readiness and workplace skills. These programmatic outcomes will empower youth to learn, grow and develop during the summer months and beyond.
Funding support was prioritized for programs serving vulnerable, at-risk and underserved youth, particularly those disproportionately impacted by crime, violence and other related challenges. These grants will also benefit the city’s “Opportunity Neighborhoods,” which are designated as such to enable strategic investment in communities that face significant socioeconomic challenges but also demonstrate the potential for transformative development.
Ordinances authorizing the $8.6 million in city funding will be considered by Columbus City Council at the April 21 meeting.
“I spent my summers lifeguarding at Wyandot Lake, now called Zoombezi Bay, where I learned to work hard and engage the public. It also kept me busy and out of trouble! This $8.6 M investment in 112 local nonprofits is all about making sure today’s young people have the same safe and enriching opportunities to grow,” said Council President Shannon Hardin. “And at a time when the federal government is pulling out the rug on nonprofits, Columbus is doubling down on supporting those who do this critical work in our underserved communities.”
These investments will join an additional $19.6 million that has already been approved for a number of city-sponsored summer programs, including police and fire cadet classes, the Columbus Recreation and Parks APPS Job Readiness Program, summer camps, youth sports and ongoing partnerships with several community organizations.
A full list of organizations receiving funding, along with contact information, is available here.