If the Columbus Region seems to be having especially good luck pulling down federal grant dollars lately, it’s not your imagination — but it’s not simple luck, either.
In a fortunate convergence, a historic level of federal investment opportunities was met by “The Columbus Way” — a culture of collaboration among business leaders, local governments and community groups — and the result is a broad-based yet tightly focused campaign to win discretionary federal grant and programmatic dollars to make central Ohio a more prosperous place.
They’re calling it the “War Room” — a coordinated campaign with a team of stakeholders who share what they know about grant opportunities and match them with area projects that would be good candidates. It’s not as simple as that sounds; the sheer volume of grant programs is dizzying, and often multiple players want to go for the same one.
But that’s exactly where the value of the War Room lies, according to Steve Steinour, CEO of Huntington Bancshares, a central player in the effort. “The business community in Central Ohio recognizes that a rising tide lifts all boats. Having a lot of parties at the table allows us to sort through options, navigate any potential conflicts, and figure out how we can capture these resources to benefit as many communities and companies as possible.”
Developing Central Ohio’s workforce is a shared priority for the business community and Columbus State Community College, a key War Room participant. “Workforce development is at the heart of what we do, and we’re grateful to have a place at the table with this unique effort,” Columbus State President David Harrison said. “We’re fortunate to have the backing of a united business community as we pursue these resources that can make such a difference in our students’ lives.”
Ann Aquillo is a consultant who supports the War Room as director of federal funding investment for the Columbus Partnership. She says it has brought “a much better sense of collaboration.” Before, conversations were happening as one-offs, and in a large, complex, and busy region such as Central Ohio, that sometimes led to missed opportunities, duplication of effort, and conflicts that could have been avoided.
While the traditional image of a “war room” includes only the topmost executives strategizing in strict secrecy, for the Columbus Partnership War Room, inclusivity is the point. Relationship-building creates awareness of opportunities and allows the collaborators to avoid simply chasing grant applications with no strategy.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty of Columbus credits bipartisanship with helping the War Room function smoothly. “Central Ohio is one of the fastest growing regions in the country, so when it comes to strengthening our local economy by bringing in good jobs and preparing members of our community to succeed in those jobs, we’re all on the same page. The Central Ohio Congressional Delegation’s collaborations with the Biden-Harris administration and vital community partners like the Columbus Urban League and the Ohio State University have paved the way for federal dollars to increase opportunity for all of us by bolstering our workforce, modernizing our transportation systems, and revitalizing our neighborhoods.”
Most War Room meetings include three elements: tracking the progress of pending applications, identifying new opportunities and reviewing metrics, and celebrating successes while determining next steps.
There is no formal membership in the War Room and any organization interested in learning about federal grants can join the meetings, held virtually at noon on the third Monday of each month.
So far, the investment — a $200,000 grant from the Columbus Partnership — has yielded big dividends, with $116 million in discretionary federal grant funding in 2024 alone. In one major win, the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) was awarded more than $40 million through a U.S. Department of Transportation’s program. The grant will help connect communities along W. Broad Street with safe and affordable transportation access.
Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Carey of Ohio’s 15th District sees the success of the War Room as powerful proof that the Columbus Way works. “Public-private partnerships, focused on community needs, make us strong contenders for these resources. Collaboration helps us tackle issues that a single entity alone can’t solve.”
That’s not to say every application is a winner; there have been disappointments, such as an unrealized effort to win a large “Tech Hub” grant through the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Aquillo sees every application, win or lose, as an opportunity for growth: “We continue to say, ‘If we didn’t get it, what did we learn?’ ”
And the Tech Hub application is a case in point; even without winning the grant, that effort brought together 32 stakeholders over an intense 60-day period, in the process forging relationships that will remain valuable for future endeavors.
That makes the War Room about infrastructure in more ways than one — projects of concrete, steel, earth and glass, but also the matrix of relationships and information that make the Region a stronger competitor for federal resources.
“When Intel committed to building in central Ohio, they embraced the promise of our vibrant communities and the strength of our workforce,” said Republican Congressman Troy Balderson, who represents the 12th District where the Intel investment is located. “The recent finalization of funding from the CHIPS and Science Act will help ensure Intel can fulfil their commitments to provide life-changing opportunities for Ohio workers and ensure the United States does not fall even further behind in critical chip manufacturing.”
The War Room’s success proves that strategic collaboration, inclusive planning, and relentless pursuit of opportunities can transform a region. Its achievements are just the beginning, setting a blueprint for the future of growth, infrastructure, and shared prosperity.
