COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Columbus City Council has approved over $8 million in funding for a variety of summer programs that aim to serve vulnerable youth.

Last week, the council passed a series of ordinances that will provide grants to nonprofits for their summer programs. The acts, sponsored by Councilmember Nancy Day-Achauer, designated $8.6 million to 112 organizations. 

“Recreation programming [allows] kids across the city to have an opportunity to not be sitting home with nothing to do but to be engaged in activities that bring about health and wellness and improve academic performance, so that’s really our goal,” Day-Archauer said. “It gives our youth something positive that they can be engaged in with other youth under supervision.”

An open application process for the funding was held from Jan. 13 to Feb. 14, when 220 nonprofits filled out forms requesting an amount of money and sharing how they would use the funds. The applicants also provided documents such as finance reports and budgets so the council could confirm they are “stable” organizations, Day-Achauer said.

The funding proposals were evaluated by an interdepartmental review board of the city’s administration. Funding was prioritized for programs serving “vulnerable, at-risk and underserved youth, particularly those disproportionately impacted by crime, violence and other related challenges,” a news release from the City of Columbus said. 

Many of the grants will benefit “opportunity neighborhoods,” such as Linden and the Hilltop, where there are “fewer resources” available for young people and “more socioeconomic challenges,” Day-Achauer said. 

Multiple of the selected nonprofits also help “historically underserved demographic groups,” according to Day-Achauer, including individuals with special needs and immigrants. The Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio, Community Refugee and Immigration Services, Kaleidoscope Youth Center for LGBTQ+ residents and Homeless Families Foundation were among those that received grants.  

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Ohio, an organization that offers out-of-school programming and youth mentorship, received $150,000. A spokesperson with the nonprofit said the funding will allow them to deliver a nine-week summer program for K–12 students.

“We are incredibly grateful for this investment in our young people,” said chief program officer Jermaine Kennedy. “This funding allows us to expand access to high-quality programs that support academic success, career readiness and social-emotional growth for our members across Columbus and Franklin County.”

The $8.6 million in funding will come from the city’s operating budget, which is primarily funded through Columbus income taxes. The grants 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, as well as youth sports.

“We owe it to our kids to give them every chance to succeed,” Mayor Andrew Ginther said in a statement. “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.”

In January 2024, Day-Achauer began serving in city council’s District 2 seat, which encompasses areas of west Columbus. She is the chair of the neighborhoods, recreation and parks committee, and the vice chair of the public service and transportation committee.