America 250 Ohio Commission outlines statewide plans and requests continued funding

Todd Kleismid, executive director of the America 250 Ohio Commission, told the House Government Oversight Committee the commission is preparing statewide programming for the U.S. Semiquincentennial and is seeking continued state support for implementation and local grants.

Kleismid said the commission — created under Ohio Revised Code section 149.309 and launched in 2022 — has engaged local committees in all 88 counties and used competitive grants to support local America 250 projects. He described a slate of initiatives including a 250-day film series called “Ohio goes to the movies,” ceremonial white-oak plantings in each county, driving trails, a fourth-grade history pass for participating museums, and educational Next Gen programs for classrooms.

Kleismid told the committee the General Assembly included $7,750,000 in the FY 2026 state operating budget and $2.5 million proposed for FY 2027 to support the commission’s activities; he said the commission awarded $1,000,000 in grants in FY 2024 and more than $275,000 in FY 2025. He said the commission is organizing monthly themes across 2026 and that local partners will run many events. “We just closed out a third round of grants in support of funding local America 250 Ohio related projects,” Kleismid said in testimony.

The commission is also building a searchable digital map of Revolutionary War veterans buried in Ohio and partnering with groups such as the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio arboretums and Keep Ohio Beautiful on heritage-tree plantings and other local projects. Kleismid said the tree-planting program uses white oak saplings, and earlier ceremonial plantings stood about 10 feet at installation; location and final planting details are being decided locally.

Representative Claggett asked about tree species and size; Kleismid said communities choose the specific planting site and that the program is following expert guidance on specimen selection and planting practices to maximize survival. Kleismid thanked legislators and Governor DeWine for the state operating-budget support and asked for continued committee acknowledgment of the commission’s work through House Concurrent Resolution 6; the committee recorded a second hearing and took no formal vote during this meeting.

The commission said it will sunset in June 2027 after completing its planned Semiquincentennial activities and asked members to expect outreach when events occur in their districts.