September 19, 2024, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine: (COLUMBUS, Ohio)— Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik today announced that nearly three dozen communities will receive funding to complete critical infrastructure and neighborhood improvement projects that enhance the quality of life for Ohioans.
More than $18.2 million in Neighborhood Revitalization and Critical Infrastructure grants will be awarded to 34 communities for projects such as upgraded water and sewer infrastructure, road and sidewalk replacement, park improvements, recreation enhancements, new fire trucks, and more.
"With this funding, we are addressing vital needs in communities across the state,” said Governor DeWine. “From upgrading water and sewer systems to enhancing public safety and improving parks, these projects will make Ohio’s neighborhoods stronger and safer for generations."
“Strong infrastructure is the foundation of a thriving economy,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “Through this funding, we are helping Ohio's communities develop the resources that are critical to job creation and a higher quality of life."
Of the total funding, 10 communities will receive a shared a total of $7.5 million in Neighborhood Revitalization grants. Eligible projects include public facility improvements such as construction, reconstruction, or rehabilitation of infrastructure, improvements to fire protection facilities, and community centers in low- and moderate-income areas.
Critical Infrastructure funding will be awarded to 24 communities, totaling $10.7 million to assist with high-priority infrastructure improvements with community-wide impact. Projects must address infrastructure in critical or poor condition to be considered eligible. Projects announced today include the improvement of flood and drainage facilities, water and sanitary sewer facilities, parks and recreation facilities, street reconstruction, and sidewalks.
"This type of infrastructure may not always be visible, but its impact is felt every day,” said Director Mihalik. “These projects will strengthen the foundation of our communities, making them safer, more resilient, and better prepared to be Ohio’s next great economic success story.”
The grant awards are funded through the federal Community Development Block Grant program.
Program Year 2024 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Projects
In September 2024, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik announced $18.2 million for Neighborhood Revitalization and Critical Infrastructure grants to 34 Ohio communities. Short summaries of each grant can be found below. These summaries were compiled by the Department of Development. Those with detailed questions about a project should contact the entity receiving the grant. Those with general questions about the program should contact Mason Waldvogel, deputy chief of media relations for the Department of Development, at Mason.Waldvogel@development.ohio.gov.
Critical Infrastructure
Carroll County will receive a $305,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the village of Leesville in upgrading the community's flood and drainage systems. The existing storm sewer system is failing due to crushed and aging catch basins and drainage lines, leading to increased flooding and dangerous holes developing as the infrastructure collapses. To prevent future problems, multiple catch basins and several hundred feet of storm sewer lines will be replaced. The project will benefit 156 people.
Coshocton County will receive a $500,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the city of Coshocton with water facility improvements. The city’s water plant contains well fields that have not been updated since the 1970s, and the electrical line that powers the facility continues to fail, causing water disruption. This has also caused water rates to increase due to the frequency and magnitude of repairs. The project will replace the well fields and the electrical line that powers the well fields. The project will benefit 10,870 people.
Defiance County will receive a $500,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the community of Evansport with a sewer facilities improvement project. The clay collection line is aged and subject to inflow and infiltration during rain events. This project includes more than 700 feet of sewer relining, rehabilitation of manholes, and pipe repair. The project will benefit 194 people.
Defiance County will receive a $480,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the village of Hicksville with replacing a water main with new piping and adding three new fire hydrants to serve the 300-400 block of Elm Street. The current cast iron water main has experienced excessive corrosion and six emergency repairs over the last 11 years, resulting in a major loss of water for residents. The last major water main improvement took place in the 1950s. This project will benefit 96 people.
The City of Delaware (Delaware County) will receive a $500,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to conduct a street improvement project in the city’s Fair Avenue neighborhood. The project will reconstruct thousands of linear feet of roadway that is in either poor or critical condition across seven roads within the neighborhood. The existing road surfaces have not been repaired in the last 20 years, and as a result, the condition of the road has deteriorated to the point where it poses a hazard to drivers. The project will benefit 1,300 people.
The City of Findlay (Hancock County) will receive a $386,500 Critical Infrastructure grant to improve the sewer facilities along Carnahan Avenue. The double-brick sewer, constructed in 1888, is experiencing deterioration of its internal bricklayer, leading to collapses that are creating holes in the roadway. The project aims to replace the storm sewer system and will benefit 910 people.
Fulton County will receive a $400,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the village of Lyons with replacing the Lyons Water Tower, which serves the entire village. The new, 100,000-gallon water tank will include a new water main connection, increasing reliability and mitigating future failures due to the current water tank being 78 years old. The current tank is damaged by internal corrosion, faulty protection systems, lead, and contaminated water. The project will benefit 373 people.
Gallia County will receive a $487,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist Gallipolis Township in repairing a road slip and one culvert on Burkhart Lane. The current culvert is beyond repair, and recent rain events have caused the road to separate at the center and sink. The project location is immediately outside the city of Gallipolis, and the road serves as a flood escape route when State Route 7 leading into Gallipolis is flooded.
Hancock County will receive a $232,200 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the village of Rawson with a sidewalk improvement project. This project will replace or install sidewalks along various streets throughout the village. Currently, the condition of the sidewalk infrastructure limits accessibility for strollers, wheelchairs, and bikes and requires the village to close some sections of the sidewalk during local parades, festivals, and holidays. Reconstructing these sidewalks will enhance pedestrian mobility across the entire village. The project will benefit 551 people.
Hardin County will receive a $500,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the village of Ridgeway in enhancing flood control and drainage systems. Floods occur in the area due to old infrastructure, a naturally high-water table, and collapsed drainage tiles. The flooding has caused extensive property damage throughout the service area. To reduce the flood hazards, Hardin County will install multiple manholes, catch basin inlets, and more than 1,000 feet of storm sewer lines. The project will benefit 314 people.
Harrison County will receive a $500,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the village of Bowerston with replacing most of the existing storm sewer trunk lines throughout the community, along with replacing catch basins and filling sinkholes. The village is currently replacing undersized storm sewers and relocating their water treatment facility out of a floodplain. Due to the current storm sewer infrastructure being roughly 88 years old, failing catch basins and undersized pipes have contributed to a growing number of sinkholes in the yards of private residences. The project will benefit 190 people.
Henry County will receive a $500,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the city of Napoleon with a wastewater improvement project. The current lines in the area are old and made of brick, making it subject to inflow and infiltration during wet-weather events. This project will replace the existing sewer and alleviate the inflow and infiltration along the street. The project will benefit 95 people.
Jackson County will receive a $430,600 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the city of Wellston in enhancing its street infrastructure. Currently, the streets experience flooding and subsidence due to inadequate drainage. Additionally, their narrow design and lack of sidewalks create safety hazards for both vehicles and pedestrians. This project will address these issues by reconstructing and widening the roadways and adding curbs, drainage systems, and sidewalks. The project will benefit 5,465 people.
Mount Vernon (Knox County) will receive a $500,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to undertake a street improvement project on West Burgess Street and West Hamtramck Street. This project will involve a complete demolition and reconstruction of the existing brick roadways, which were originally built without the durability needed to support the demands of modern traffic. Consequently, the road base has deteriorated, causing ruts and making travel on these streets both challenging and hazardous. By reconstructing these roadways with advanced base materials, the project aims to ensure safer and more reliable transportation in the future. The project will benefit approximately 565 people.
Lawrence County will receive a $304,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the city of Ironton with flood and drainage improvements. One of the city’s pump stations requires an upgrade in electrical and other equipment; the pump station currently cannot drain water out of the section of Ironton it serves, which has caused water and sewer backups in resident’s homes and standing water. The project will benefit 1,285 people.
Madison County will receive a $446,800 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the village of Mount Sterling with a sewer facility improvement project. The project will re-route the flow of sewer water out of a collapsed sewer line flowing under an abandoned property into an existing 12-inch sewer which will be deepened to support the re-routing of sewage. Re-routing and deepening existing sewer lines will mitigate the conditions that cause these sewer overflows. The project will benefit 1,800 people.
Paulding County will receive a $500,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the village of Paulding with water facility improvements. There is a 60-year-old cast iron water line that is corroding. This leads to boil advisories, 40-50 percent water loss, non-compliance with fire suppression standards, and EPA violations. Due to the cost of repairs, water rates have gone up for the residents. The project will replace the iron pipe with PVC and include updates to water valves, fire hydrants, and service connections. The project will benefit 3,635 people.
Pickaway County will receive a $500,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the village of Ashville with a flood and drainage improvement project along Randolph Street. This street was last repaired in the 1980s and is past its useful life. The last improvements paved over the road, resulting in the street being at a higher elevation than the yards of homes along this street. This project will lower the road and install curbs, catch basins, and storm pipe to alleviate the flooding hazard. The project will benefit 1,085 people.
Pickaway County will receive a $500,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the city of Circleville in upgrading water facilities along Walnut Street. The current main water line is inadequate, having failed multiple times, and does not meet modern firefighting standards. The project will fund the replacement of the main water line and two fire hydrants, as well as the installation of new valves, including box, insertion, and gate valves. The project will benefit 3,150 people.
Ross County will receive a $500,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the village of Adelphi with replacing the existing sewage systems within the village and adding sewage infrastructure in areas where they don’t currently exist. This includes the installation of new catch basins, manhole covers, headwalls, and storm sewer pipes. Due to sewage infrastructure dating back to the 1930s, floods have impacted access to the village for residents, emergency responders, school buses and travelers during time of heavy rainfall, putting community members at a health risk. The project will benefit 365 people.
Ross County will receive a $500,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the village of Clarksburg with a street improvement project along 3rd Street. The project will reconstruct a section of roadway and replace eight catch basins and culverts along a stretch of 3rd Street, entering the village from the south. The existing road surface is cracking in the center and severely narrowing at the edges. This condition creates hazardous situations for the mix of commercial and personal vehicles that use this roadway as their primary entrance and exit from the village. The project will benefit 535 people.
Scioto County will receive a $500,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the village of New Boston with flood and drainage improvements. The project will upgrade components and pumps in a facility located on Munn Run at the floodwall along the Ohio River. The current electrical gear is obsolete, and the pump station does not have the capacity to drain water from the village, which has experienced many major rain events throughout the past several years. The project will benefit 2,070 people.
Scioto County will receive a $500,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist the village of Otway with flood and drainage improvements along State Route 73. The road is the main throughfare in Otway, and experiences significant flooding and standing water during rain events due to the lack of curbs and drainage; water from higher elevations collects in the village and has nowhere to drain. The project will benefit 100 people.
Williams County will receive a $256,800 Critical Infrastructure grant to assist Pulaski Township with sewer facilities improvements. A total of 4,970 feet of storm sewer line and 24 catch basins will be installed along Township Road 15 to alleviate flooding and sewer backups experienced by residents in the surrounding area. After rain events, the current drainage system does not allow for water to drain from the area, and water backup infiltrates the sanitary sewer system, which causes sewer backup. The project will benefit 113 people.
Neighborhood Revitalization
Athens County will receive a $750,000 Neighborhood Revitalization grant to assist the village of Jacksonville with four activities as part of a Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) project. The overall project will consist of street, sidewalk, and flood and drainage improvements, as well as park improvements, which include new restrooms, a park shelter, playground equipment upgrades, and a walking trail. The project will benefit 610 people.
Darke County will receive a $750,000 Neighborhood Revitalization grant to assist the village of Arcanum with five neighborhood revitalization activities. The county will reconstruct South High Street, as well as replace the storm sewer lines, waterlines, and sidewalks along the road. Two parking lots will also be improved. The project will benefit 2,160 people.
Fairfield County will receive a $750,000 Neighborhood Revitalization grant to assist the village of Bremen with four activities as part of a Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) project. The overall project will consist of sidewalk, street, and flood and drainage improvements, as well as park improvements at the municipal pool. The project will benefit 1,640 people.
The City of Mount Vernon (Knox County) will receive a $750,000 Neighborhood Revitalization grant to conduct six activities as part of a Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) project. The overall project will consist of sewage facility, water facility, sidewalk and street improvements, along with the installation of six pickleball courts and one basketball court with basketball equipment. Lastly, the project will include the installation of new sewage lines on Beech Alley and North Adams Street. The project will benefit 1,170 people.
Marion County will receive a $750,000 Neighborhood Revitalization grant to assist the village of LaRue with five activities as part of a Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) project. The program will consist of the reconstruction or installation of roadway, sidewalks, curbs, and gutters along South High Street, the relocation of an existing utility pole at the intersection of South High and South streets, as well as the paving of a parking lot serving a community playground. The project will benefit 670 people.
Marion County will receive a $750,000 Neighborhood Revitalization grant to assist the village of Prospect with five activities as part of a Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) project. The program will reconstruct roadway, replace sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and install storm sewer line, catch basins, and manholes along East Street and Park Avenue. The program will also relocate a utility pole and pave an existing parking lot that serves the village’s new basketball and pickleball courts. The project will benefit 1,025 people.
Monroe County will receive a $750,000 Neighborhood Revitalization grant to assist the village of Beallsville with five activities as part of a Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) project. The overall project will consist of sewer, sidewalk, and street improvements. Along with construction of the new Bicentennial Park and Pavilion, the county will purchase a fire truck and install new fire hydrants throughout the village. This project will benefit 395 people.
Pickaway County will receive a $750,000 Neighborhood Revitalization grant to assist the village of Williamsport with five activities as part of a Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) project. The overall project will consist of street improvements, street sign installation, sidewalk installation, rehabilitation of the community center, replacement of the water softener, and multiple park improvements such as frisbee golf, pickleball nets, and bathroom and parking improvements. The project will benefit 1,225 people.
Scioto County will receive a $750,000 Neighborhood Revitalization grant to support the village of New Boston with the implementation of five activities as part of a Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) project. Work will be done at the local park installing new pickleball courts and improving the walking trail. Other aspects of the project include improvements to two local roads, the installation of new welcome signs, and new flooring at the community center. Additionally, multiple residential properties will be demolished throughout the Village. The project will benefit 2,070 people.
Van Wert County will receive a $750,000 Neighborhood Revitalization grant to assist the village of Middle Point with several improvements throughout the village, including flood and drainage improvements, sewer facilities improvements, and water facilities improvements as a Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) project. The project will benefit 535 people.
