This study investigated various state policies to determine their impact on the state share of instruction (SSI) funding to community colleges in the state of Ohio. To complete the policy analysis, the researcher utilized three policy analysis tools, defined by Gill and Saunders (2010) as iterative processes, intuition and judgment, and advice and opinion. The findings identify key policies that impacted the development and state funding of community colleges. Additionally, the researcher found access was the key policy driver during the time period of this study. The state of Ohio linked its state higher education budget to the policy of access by implementing and maintaining an enrollment-driven formula throughout the years of this study during which data were examined (1962-2009). In fiscal year 1998, Ohio added the Access Challenge, which provided funding to community colleges to help them keep tuition costs low, which again reflected and emphasized the State's policy to provide access to all citizens.