Kenton and Forest to Receive Grants for Critical Water Infrastructure Projects

The City of Kenton and the Village of Forest will benefit from a total $135 million in grants that will support 90 critical water infrastructure projects in 64 counties throughout the state.

The annoucement was made in a release from Governor Mike DeWine this morning.

The City of Kenton will receive a $5,000,000 grant for phase 2 water improvements to Kenton’s downtown infrastructure.

The downtown sewer, storm and water mains are some of the oldest in the city.

Much of this infrastructure is near or beyond its useful life for these utilities.

Phase 2 improvements encompass the nine-block area in the core of downtown Kenton.

The Village of Forest will receive a $239,000 grant for a pump station replacement project.

Project activities will include the rehabilitation of three pump stations within the village’s collection system.

Rehab items will be wet well piping replacement, control cabinet replacement, and the addition of permanent emergency back-up power.

Also receiving grants from our region:

The Auglaize County Board of Commissioners (Auglaize County) will receive a $129,900 grant to improve the existing, 56-year-old sewer collection system, install a new lift station and 1,300 linear feet of force main, as well as the demolition of an old wastewater treatment plant. The project will benefit 60 people.

The Village of Cridersville (Auglaize County) will receive a $725,000 grant to replace an existing 12-inch gravity sanitary sewer collection main with a proposed 15-inch main. The existing sewer will be replaced on Waverly Street from Main Street to the dead end, west under the existing railroad to the Gay Street
intersection. The project would consist of the second phase of improvements required to handle the existing flow from the service area, plus additional capacity for the projected future flow from the development east of Interstate 75. The project will benefit 900 people.

The Village of West Liberty (Logan County) will receive a $150,000 grant to replace approximately 950 feet and 370 feet of existing clay sewer line along Linden Avenue and Race Street, respectively. Project activities include the installation of one new manhole to reduce spacing between manholes to an acceptable level, as well as a 150-foot sewer line extension along Reynolds Street. Two new manholes and laterals to existing homes will also be installed. The project will benefit 220 people.

The Allen Water District (Allen County) will receive a $439,000 grant to construct a loop to the local water distribution system. Project activities include installing approximately 4,200 linear feet of 12-inch waterline, serving approximately 10 residents along the route while also providing a back-up water source to another 2,200 people. The project will benefit 2,210 people.

Here is the complete release from the Governor’s Office:

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik today announced grant awards totaling $135 million that will support 90 critical water infrastructure projects in 64 counties throughout the state.

These grants are part of the fifth round of the Ohio BUILDS (Broadband, Utilities, and Infrastructure for Local Development Success) water infrastructure program. Since its inception, the program has provided nearly $500 million to support 343 local water projects impacting each of Ohio’s 88 counties.

“From the first dollar awarded through this program to now, we’ve made hundreds of transformative investments in the future of our communities,” said Governor DeWine. “Having a strong water infrastructure not only safeguards the health and well-being of our residents, but it makes our neighborhoods more resilient and better prepares local leaders for sustainable economic growth.”

The grants announced today will help reduce or eliminate the financial burden community leaders face regarding 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 system backups, and extend sewer lines to support economic growth.

“This additional round of funding will help communities from one corner of the state to the next replace aging, overwhelmed infrastructure, ensuring that Ohioans have access to clean drinking water,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “These projects will not only greatly improve the quality of life for residents in these areas, but they also boost economic growth related to business expansion and housing development.”

The DeWine-Husted Administration launched the Ohio BUILDS water infrastructure program in 2021 as a continuation of Governor DeWine’s H2Ohio initiative, which launched in 2019 to focus on ensuring plentiful, clean, and safe water for communities across the state.

In total, nearly $1.3 billion has been dedicated to the initiative.

The first three rounds of the program, awarded in October 2021, November 2021, and December 2021, were funded with $250 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) appropriated by the 134th Ohio General Assembly. Both the previous and current rounds of this award were funded through an additional $250 million in ARPA dollars appropriated by the legislature through House Bill 45, which was signed by Governor DeWine in January 2023.

“Businesses that choose to set up shop in Ohio do so, in large part, because of the generational investments we’ve made in local infrastructure,” said Director Mihalik. “Through the vision of Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted, and the support of our state legislature, we’re creating more opportunities for communities large and small to be Ohio’s next great economic success story.”

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.

Additional information on the Ohio BUILDS water infrastructure grant program, including announcements from previous rounds, can be found on the program webpage: https://development.ohio.gov/community/economic-development/water-and-wastewater-infrastructure-grant

For a complete list of Round 5 grant awards: https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/OHIOGOVERNOR/2023/07/20/file_attachments/2560320/Ohio%20BUILDS%20Water%20Infrastructure%20Grant%20Projects%20-%20Round%205.pdf