June 3, 2024, Press Release from the City of Lima: The City of Lima is one of 76 projects receiving state grants to address critical water and wastewater infrastructure projects in Ohio communities. In total, 59 counties will receive $122.7 million.
The funding is part of the sixth round of the Ohio BUILDS (Broadband, Utilities, and Infrastructure for Local Development Success) Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Grant Program. Funding will provide $84.5 million in support of 43 new critical infrastructure projects and $38.2 million in gap funding for 33 previously funded projects with costs that exceeded initial estimates.
Since 2021, the Ohio BUILDS Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Grant Program has provided nearly $620 million to support hundreds of local water projects in all of Ohio’s 88 counties.
“The investments we've made through this program have been transformational in many Ohio communities,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “The projects we're funding are about more than new pipes - they're about protecting the health and wellbeing of Ohioans across the state.”
The grants announced today will help reduce or eliminate the financial burden community leaders face in addressing critical infrastructure needs such as new water distribution systems, waterline extensions, water tower replacements, and new pipes and water mains. Grants will also fund projects to replace sanitary sewer systems, prevent sewer system backups, and extend sewer lines to support economic growth.
The City of Lima’s award of $1,641,200 will support equipment upgrades and replacements that minimize the chance of sewer overflows and prevent contamination of the local watershed in the event of power loss. Through the grant funding, the City of Lima will be supplying three-phase power from the electrical utility to the three river control structures that will allow the city to remove power inverters that often require replacement. The project will also replace the generators at each of the five river gate structures that control the flow of sewer to the system to provide back-up power during outages.
“Investments in our communities’ infrastructure are key to expanding sites for new businesses and housing that the people who work at these businesses will need to live and thrive,” said Lt. Jon Governor Husted. “This program is a key part of our efforts to ensure every community has the foundation in place to improve the quality of life to make Ohio a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds were appropriated by the Ohio General Assembly and awarded through three rounds inOctober,November, and December 2021, as well as rounds in June and July 2023. The sixth round of funding was made possible through continued support in the 2023 biennium budget bill, which included more than $120 million to support water infrastructure projects. The Ohio Department of Development administers the program.
“Whenever I travel the state, I’m inevitably greeted by Ohioans who share the transformative impact water/wastewater projects have had on their communities,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Department of Development. “But our work is far from over, and thanks to Governor DeWine, Lt. Governor Husted, and our partners in the Ohio General Assembly, we have the opportunity to create sustainable solutions in even more parts of the state.”
The program received 703 grant applications for this round, requesting more than $1.4 billion in funding, demonstrating the continued need for water infrastructure improvements across the state.
“Investments in water reclamation and power systems are critical as they reduce the risk of failures that can lead to environmental contamination and other health hazards,” states Mayor Sharetta Smith. “We are very thankful for the state’s support to strengthen our utility infrastructure.”
In addition to water infrastructure upgrades, Ohio BUILDS strategically invests in a broad range of projects to improve quality of life and support economic growth, such as broadband expansion, brownfield redevelopment, the demolition of blighted buildings, and more.
