Ohio News


Ohio Communities Receive $10.6 Million in State Funding for Community Improvements


Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Development (Development) today announced more than $10.6 million for Neighborhood Revitalization and Critical Infrastructure grants to 20 Ohio communities. Awarded grants will assist communities in neighborhood improvement projects designed to improve the health, safety, and general welfare of residents.


“We’re proud to invest in areas where communities need it the most,” said Governor DeWine. “Safe and reliable infrastructure is critical for Ohio communities to thrive, and the improvement projects we’re supporting with this funding will impact the health and safety of residents.”


Five communities will receive grants for Neighborhood Revitalization totaling $3.69 million. Eligible activities include public facility improvements, such as construction, reconstruction, or rehabilitation of infrastructure, fire protection facilities and community centers in low- to moderate-income target areas.


“Ohio is on the rise economically, and we need to ensure that our communities are keeping up,” said Lt. Governor Jon Husted. “Businesses are eager to move to and expand in Ohio, and these grants will help ready sites.”


Critical Infrastructure awards include 17 communities, totaling more than $7 million to assist Ohio communities with high-priority, infrastructure improvements with community-wide impact. Projects must be in critical or poor condition to be considered eligible. Projects announced today include the improvement of eight flood and drainage facilities, four water facilities, one sanitary sewer facility, one bridge reconstruction and three street reconstructions. The investments will benefit more than 19,000 Ohioans through the completion of 17 public facility improvement projects.


“Access to reliable and safe public facilities is the right of all Ohioans,” said Lydia Mihalik, Director of Development. “These grants will help make repairs and improvements to address the unique needs of these communities.”


Ohio communities receiving grants are:


Champaign County will receive a $500,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the city of Urbana with storm sewer improvements. The project will install 1,126 linear feet of 48” drainage pipe, nine insertion valves, eight storm sewer manholes, one catch basin and 440 linear feet of transitional conduit. The project will reroute stormwater to an existing, underutilized line and minimize severe flooding in the area.


Clark County will receive a $437,500 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the city of New Carlisle with street and drainage improvements. The existing storm drywell system is around 70 years old and causes standing water on curbs and gutters during storm events and leading to roadway deterioration. The project will install three dry wells, four storm catchment basins, 100 feet of 12” diameter storm pipe, 1,258 linear feet of asphalt pavement, and 2,517 linear feet of curb and gutter. The project will benefit 144 people.


Darke County will receive a $500,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the village of Versailles with water line improvements in the north central area of the village. The 80-year-old water lines past their useful life and are prone to frequent breakage. Most of the lines are lead based, leading to contamination and health concerns for village residents. The project will replace 4,020 linear feet of water lines, 17 water valves, and 10 fire hydrants, and assist homeowners with replacing lead service lines to homes. The project will benefit 372 people.


Fairfield County will receive a $692,600 Neighborhood Revitalization grant to assist the village of Pleasantville with neighborhood improvements including restroom facilities and one athletic field at Otte and Lincoln Parks. The project will repave 250 linear feet of street and install or repair three catch basin, 50 linear feet of conduit, 980 linear feet of sidewalk, 1,400 square feet of pool deck pavement, and one restroom facility. The project will benefit 1,130 people.


The City of Findlay will receive a $500,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to complete waterline improvements. The current 4” waterlines are insufficient to support the local fire department and are a threat to public health and safety. The project will install eight new fire hydrants and 5,800 linear feet of 6” waterline to support firefighting capacity. The project will benefit 750 people.


Hancock County will receive a $400,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the village of McComb with the construction of a stormwater interceptor. The existing storm sewers are undersized resulting in flooding throughout the village and basement and foundation water damage to residents’ homes. The project will install 3,000 linear feet of 48” and 60” storm sewer conduit to the village’s storm sewer system. The project will benefit 1,645 people.


Henry County will receive a $250,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the village of Liberty Center with a storm sewer replacement project. The existing system is more than 80 years old, and the clay tile is severely deteriorated leading to flooding streets and sinkholes in residential properties during rain events. The project will replace the current lines with nearly 3,000 linear feet of 12”, 15” and 24” PVC storm sewer line and 12 new catch basins. The project will benefit 453 people.


Henry County will receive a $300,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the city of Napoleon with sanitary sewer improvements. The existing clay system experiences inflow and infiltration, forcing untreated wastewater into the Maumee River. The project will replace 975 linear feet of clay sewer line with PVC. The project will benefit 91 people.


Logan County will receive a $500,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the village of DeGraff with water facilities improvements. The project will replace an exposed bridge water line that is vulnerable to traffic hazards and difficult to repair. The project will also install 2,700 linear feet of 8” water lines, fire hydrants, and water valves. The project will benefit 1,327 people.


Madison County will receive a $392,700 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the village of Midway with flood and drainage improvements. The existing storm water system is a mixture of 19th century clay tiles and miscellaneous additions and cannot handle runoff causing flooding and property damage. The project will install a storm sewer, two manholes, 14 culverts and catch basins, and 2,750 linear feet of storm lines. The project will benefit 287 people.


Madison County will receive a $750,000 Neighborhood Revitalization grant to assist the city of London with neighborhood improvements. The project will install 1,190 linear feet of storm sewer, seven catch basins, three manholes, 10 fire hydrants, and reline 1,800 linear feet of sanitary sewer. The city will also create a pocket park, including a playground and a shelter house. The project will benefit 2,125 people.


Medina County will receive a $492,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the village of Lodi with the construction of a bridge to combat major flooding issues in Lodi Community Park. The current bridge has failed, and residents cannot safely cross or be rescued by the fire department in a flooding event. The project will construct a new raised bridge with a lane for pedestrians. The project will benefit 2,750 people.


Monroe County will receive a $750,000 Neighborhood Revitalization grant to assist the community of Sardis with eight neighborhood improvements. The project will purchase and replace equipment at the library and gymnasium in addition to a bathroom and drinking foundation, and a new pump and motor for drinking water. The project will install 300 linear feet of sidewalk, 1,600 linear feet of street paving, a 28,016 square feet gravel lot, 2,100 linear feet of culverts, and one catch basin. The project will benefit 480 people.


The City of Mount Vernon will receive a $500,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to complete a street and sewer improvement project. The existing brick street along St. Catherine Street is over 100 years old with no existing storm sewer, leading to tree rooting, extreme rutting and frequent flooding on the street and sidewalks. The project will install 618 linear feet of storm sewer, reconstruct 1,060 linear feet of street, and 3,037 linear feet of curbs. The project will benefit 670 people.


The City of Mount Vernon will receive a $750,000 Neighborhood Revitalization grant for various neighborhood improvements. The project will make improvements to park and recreation facilities including the installation of new equipment and courts at Dan Emmett Park. The project will also install 2,525 linear feet of sidewalk, 10 curb cuts, 4,527 linear feet of storm sewer, 32 catch basins, 1,919 linear feet of street paving, 2,134 linear feet of sanitary sewer, 257 linear feet of water lines and one fire hydrant. The project will benefit 498 people.


Pickaway County will receive a $500,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the village of Tarlton with reconstruction of the roadway along Harrison Street and the installation of flood and drainage components. The street currently lacks drainage facilities leading to deterioration of the street. The project will install 254 linear feet of 8” storm sewer line, 1,120 linear feet of 12” storm sewer and 16 curb inlets. 1,146 linear feet of Harrison Street will be reconstructed. The project will benefit 261 people.


Pike County will receive a $300,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to complete street improvements. A 100-foot section of Green Ridge Road is failing and has been reduced to one lane. The road is vital to emergency services in the area. The project will replace the 100-foot-long slip of road. The project will benefit 85 people.


Pike County will receive a $500,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to complete street improvements. The project will replace two failing culverts along Salt Creek Road which have caused the roadway to be reduced to one lane. The project will benefit 526 people.


Van Wert County will receive a $750,000 Neighborhood Revitalization grant will assist the village of Wren with infrastructure and revitalization improvements throughout the village. The project will install 1,800 linear feet of curbs, 10 curb cuts, 3,000 linear feet of sidewalk, 1,900 linear feet of storm sewer, 16 catch basins, and six manholes. The county will also rehabilitate the village park’s parking lot, create 50 additional spots and construct a new historic preservation storage facility for the village. The project will benefit 200 residents.


Williams County will receive a $265,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the city of Bryan with water facility improvements. The current water lines are 4” cast iron that is over 50 years old and prone to breakage. The project will install 11 water vales, 79 water tap-ins and 2,702 linear feet of 6” pipe. The project will benefit 196 people.


Wood County will receive a $163,500 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the village of Bloomdale with storm sewer improvements. The existing storm sewer has reached the end of its useful life leading to flooding and property damage. The project will install 3,343 linear feet of PVC pipe and 26 catch basins. The project will benefit 171 people.


The City of Wooster will receive a $500,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to complete improvements to its fire protection facilities. The 1961 fire station serves the southern, historic half of the city and does not provide adequate fire protection. The project will rehabilitate the facility to meet community needs. The project will benefit 9,915 people.


Posted October 21, 2022