There is only one place in Columbus where listeners can listen to an entire hour of local music made in a neighborhood smaller than Ohio State’s campus, a bike polo broadcast live from the court and a three-minute cooking show.

WCRS-LP, Columbus Public Radio, broadcasts its signal at 98.3 FM and 102.1 FM. Listeners can also tune in via the Internet at wcrsfm.org.

WCRS provides Columbus with dozens of locally produced programs such as news programs, music programs and talk shows on an eclectic mix of subjects. Botany, economic issues, environmentalism and activism are a few of the topics covered on these programs.

Zach Henkel, an Ohio State graduate and volunteer coordinator for WCRS, said the station provides a voice for underrepresented communities. Local volunteers produce programs in Spanish, French and Somali. One program, “Starshine and Clay,” invites immigrants living in Columbus to share their perspective on world events. WCRS also broadcasts content dealing with gender issues and the lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender community.

Henkel produces “Cranksters,” a talk show about Columbus’ bicycling culture featuring guest cyclists from the community who swap stories and share maintenance tips.

Local musicians take to the airwaves on “The SoHud Sound,” a music program dedicated to playing the work of musicians living in the area south of Hudson Street.

While local volunteers produce the majority of the station’s programming, the station also broadcasts some syndicated shows, Henkel said.

“This Way Out” is a syndicated program that faces gender issues. Henkel said the syndicated program airs because of a lack of volunteer interest in creating a similar local program.

WCRS broadcasts “Democracy Now!” an award-winning independent news program that can be heard on hundreds of stations nationwide. The founders of WCRS wanted the show to be available to the community, and chose to broadcast it because other radio stations would not, Henkel said.

Volunteers at WCRS feel very strongly about the station’s effect on the community. Eugene Beer, chief fngineer for WCRS, said it provides a voice for “anybody with a passion to come in here, put in a little work and get on the [microphone] and interview people.”

The station is “democratic – small d – and it’s accessible. We welcome peoples’ voices and participation, and we’re here to serve the community,” Welker said.

Despite WCRS’ tight budget and primarily volunteer workforce, the station is unable to provide 100 percent of its own funding.

WCRS is supported by Simply Living, a Columbus-based nonprofit organization.

Marilyn Welker, director of Simply Living and executive director for WCRS, said Simply Living fills the gap with monetary support, but has an eventual goal for WCRS to be self-sustaining.

“This is something Simply Living has taken on their shoulders for a year,” said Jayme Richards, another OSU graduate and development coordinator for WCRS, “but we need to make this community radio. We need to truly make this Columbus’ voice.”

The station also receives donations from community members, grants and money earned at fundraisers.

Richards said any member of the community can host a fundraising event. She helps potential hosts get in contact with the necessary people and businesses to make an event happen.

Adam Fleischer, volunteer and producer of a music program titled “Musicology,” put together a benefit concert for WCRS in July 2008. He is planning a similar concert for this summer.

Richards started seeking a new source of income for WCRS this month: underwriting.

Underwriting is “the FCC’s way of letting us do advertisements,” Richards said. “You can’t say action words like ‘stop on by’ or name prices, but you can state factual details.” Richards said the rules of underwriting even allow a non-profit to describe a food product as “delicious,” for example.

Richards has already succeeded in finding underwriters. The Puffin Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports arts organizations, has agreed to underwrite WCRS for the next year.

Richards said local businesses have also underwritten the station.

When attempting to secure funds, competition can be fierce. “There are so many nonprofits out there, everyone is trying to fight over the same money, especially when it comes to grants,” Richards said.

Securing funds is even more difficult in the midst of an economic recession: “This is not a time when businesses feel like they have extra money. However, this is a time when we need to support local businesses,” Welker said, “We can support local businesses and local businesses can support us.”

For WCRS, the underwriting project is essential.

Beer said the station is attempting to raise money for modifications to one of the station’s two broadcast towers, which would result in better reception in areas where the signal is weak.

Simply Living and WCRS have five work-study positions available to OSU students.

More information can be found at wcrsfm.org.

Eric Pacella can be reached at [email protected].