Press Release written and provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): Columbus, Ohio, Dec. 11, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development in Ohio State Director Jonathan McCracken today announced an investment of $22.4 million in loans and grants to four Ohio recipients that are intended to improve Ohio’s rural electric, water, and solid waste management infrastructure. “Ohio Rural Development is committed to increasing investments in Ohio’s rural communities to ensure that they continue to have access to essential services like clean water and reliable, affordable power,” said McCracken. “These investments today underscore USDA’s commitment to ensuring our rural communities have the resources they need to be competitive, sustain economic growth, and improve the quality of life for their residents.”

The City of Lima is getting state dollars to make improvements to the city's water infrastructure. The money comes from the state's "Ohio BUILDS" program. "BUILDS" stands for broadband, utilities, and infrastructure for local development success. Lima is receiving 1.6 million dollars from a water and wastewater infrastructure grant. It will go towards equipment upgrades and replacements to minimize the chance of sewer overflows and contamination of the local watershed in the event of a power loss. They will renovate 5-river gate structures and install a new generator at each.

June 4, 2024, Press Release from the City of Findlay: Findlay, Ohio – June 4, 2024: On Thursday, June 6, 2024, from 7am-5pm, a sanitary sewer is scheduled to be repaired near the intersection of Walnut Street and Crystal Avenue. This will close Walnut Street from North Main Street to Taylor Street and Crystal Avenue from Walnut Street to Pine Avenue. Motorists are advised to avoid this area.

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.

May 31, 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 $122.7 million in grant awards to help improve water infrastructure in 59 counties. 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 a total of nearly $620 million to support hundreds of local water projects in all of Ohio’s 88 counties.

A collaboration between academia and government is working to recruit and train a younger generation of workers to fill vacancies of retiring baby boomers. It's estimated that 30 to 50% of the water/wastewater workforce nationwide could retire in the next decade. Locally these positions are in high demand and that is why a pre-apprenticeship program has been developed. Rhodes State College, Ohio Means Jobs Allen County, the City of Lima and Allen County have partnered up to encourage people age 18 to 24 years old to think about taking this "boot camp" style program.

As part of their humanitarian efforts, the Lima Rotarians are stepping up to help remote villages in Honduras. Jeff Gunter tells how they are working to give these communities a healthier way of life.