COLUMBUS, Ohio—Ohio’s new $60.1 billion state budget includes more than $34 million in direct funding for a wide variety of Northeast Ohio nonprofits and initiatives over the next two years, from quantum computing to neighborhood revitalization.

Some of the dozens of earmarks coming to the Cleveland area are for new initiatives, such as a $7 million quantum computing program involving the Cleveland Clinic. Some of the other recipients say the budget money is crucial to help them continue important programs for K-12 students in the region.

You can see the full list of Northeast Ohio budget earmarks here, but here are some of the key highlights:

A leap into the future: $7 Million for quantum computing

The new state budget provides $7 million for the new Ohio Institute for Quantum Computing Research, a groundbreaking collaboration between the Cleveland Clinic and Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Under the new initiative, Miami University will establish new degree programs in quantum computing, a field that holds immense potential for revolutionizing healthcare and other industries.

Miami University quantum-computing students will be able to land internships at Cleveland Clinic, which is already home to an IBM Quantum System One computer dedicated to healthcare research. Cleveland Clinic will benefit by attracting top quantum computing talent to come to Cleveland and stay in the city to work for the medical center once they graduate.

State Rep. Tom Young, a Dayton-area Republican and a key advocate for the $7 million, emphasized the transformative power of quantum computing, stating that it could significantly accelerate disease prediction and drug development. This investment not only positions Ohio as a leader in quantum technology but also prepares the next generation of innovators in this cutting-edge field.

Supporting families: Say Yes Cleveland’s $750,000 funding

Say Yes Cleveland has secured $750,000 over the next two years to sustain its family support specialist program.

This nonprofit organization, which provides college scholarships to Cleveland students, has faced financial challenges in recent years, with funding significantly reduced from the previous budget.

Interim executive director Catherine Tkachyk described the funding as “essential” for maintaining the program, which deploys specialists to schools to assist students with housing, food, mental health services, and other basic needs.

State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney, a Westlake Democrat who worked to secure the money, said the funding is important to support families in need, help students overcome barriers to education, and achieve their academic goals.

Spreading kindness: $4 million for the Kindland initiative

The Values-In-Action Foundation’s Kindland campaign is set to expand its reach across Ohio with a $4 million allocation from the state budget.

This funding will allow the initiative to extend its kindness-focused programming to an additional 700 schools statewide over the next two years, marking a $1 million increase from the previous budget.

Launched in 2020 with the ambitious goal of documenting one million acts of kindness, the Kindland campaign has already made significant strides in promoting kindness in schools through various activities, including kindness rallies and curriculum integration.

Stuart Muszynski, co-founder and CEO of the foundation, expressed gratitude for the state’s support, highlighting the importance of teaching kindness as a core value in education and community life.

This initiative not only fosters a positive school environment but also encourages students to engage in acts of kindness, creating a ripple effect throughout the community.

Revitalizing communities: $500,000 for Cleveland Neighborhood Progress

Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, a nonprofit dedicated to community development, will receive $500,000 to continue its efforts in revitalizing “middle neighborhoods”— Cleveland neighborhoods and nearby suburbs that are neither affluent nor impoverished but require investment to prevent decline.

The organization provides matching grants of up to $50,000 for business improvements and purchases homes for rehabilitation, selling them at reduced prices to local residents.

With previous state funding of $3 million, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress has already made significant progress, purchasing 20 homes and successfully selling one.

Edward Stockhausen, senior vice president of the organization, noted that the additional $500,000 reflects the state’s belief in the program’s potential to foster economic growth in Cleveland and nearby suburbs, as well as improve the quality of life for residents.

This story was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence.

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