The Strategic Square Footage Reduction (SSFR) Program, totaling $82.65 million, was proposed by Governor DeWine and authorized through the FY26-27 state operating budget (Am. Sub. H.B. 96 of the 136th General Assembly). The purpose of the program is to make revolving loans to state institutions of higher education for the purpose of voluntarily reducing physical square footage.
A primary objective of the SSFR Program is to enable square footage reduction that is desired - based on institutional goals and building utilization metrics - but would be cost prohibitive without the program. To support this outcome, loans awarded in the early rounds of the SSFR Program will be prioritized to institutions with declining enrollment, as required by law, and to institutions with the lowest fiscal capacity (i.e., low wealth and/or low or negative net income).
Recognizing that some institutions may not have funding available to complete the planning work required to apply for a demolition loan, this pre-demolition loan is being offered.