Last Updated on June 4, 2017 by cassnetwork
On Thursday, Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) announced almost $11 million in federal grant funding was awarded to 23 rural Hoosier communities across 5 programs.
Applications for Round 1 of the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) were due to OCRA on April 7. The State of Indiana distributes CDBG funds to rural communities in an effort to ensure health and safety, and to improve the quality of life of citizens.
BLIGHT CLEARANCE PROGRAM:
The Blight Clearance Program (BCP) strives to encourage Indiana communities with blighted properties to focus on long-term community development and revitalization through improving quality of place, generating jobs, and spurring economic revitalization. Eligible projects to receive grant funding through BCP are deteriorated or abandoned downtown buildings or vacant and unusable industrial sites.
Lawrence County has been awarded $230,000 for the clearance/demolition of the old Huron School Building in the community of Huron. This project will return the site to green space, removing a blighted property, and address a health and safety issues for the community. The removal should positively impact the local property values and provide a more welcome environment for potential community members.
The Town of Wolcott has been awarded $160,494 for clearance and demolition of the Furman-Powell Building. This will benefit residents by removing the blighted building in the downtown area that is currently hindering development in the area.
MAIN STREET REVITALIZATION PROGRAM:
The Main Street Revitalization Program (MSRP) encourages communities with eligible populations to focus on long-term community development efforts. Eligible applicants had a designated active Indiana Main Street group in their community and the project must be a part of the Main Street’s overall strategy. MSRP projects include streetscapes, façade renovations, and downtown infrastructure rehabilitation.
The City of Sullivan has been awarded $500,000 for streetscape improvements to the City’s downtown business district. The project will revitalize the downtown commercial district, eliminate blighted conditions, and promote commercial revitalization in the City of Sullivan through new sidewalks, bump-outs, landscaping with new trees, planters, and benches.
The Town of Fairmount has been awarded $500,000 for new sidewalks and lighting to be installed from First to Madison Streets along Main Street. This project will primarily benefit the residents of the Town of Fairmount and the Main Street Business District. This sidewalk and lighting project will improve pedestrian traffic conditions as residents and travelers walk through the business district.
PUBLIC FACILITIES PROGRAM:
The goals of the Public Facilities Program (PFP) are to improve the Quality of Place and to generate jobs and spur economic revitalization through improving community facilities or historic preservation projects. Eligible community facilities include community centers, daycares, libraries, museums, senior centers, and performance spaces.
Noble County has been awarded $500,000 for a Council on Aging relocation project. This project will rehabilitate an industrial site, transforming it into a senior center. This new facility will allow for better service to seniors in Noble County. It will benefit residents that are senior citizens who utilize the Council on Aging’s services.
The Town of Glenwood has been awarded $500,000 for the demolition of the current fire station and construction of a new fire station. This project will consist of the construction of an 8,587 square foot station that will benefit residents of the Glenwood Volunteer Fire Department service area, allowing for faster response time to emergencies.
Henry County has been awarded $500,000 for the construction of a new fire station. This project will expand the existing community center to include the new 5-bay fire station. This new station will provide improved services to all families served by the fire station.
Crawford County has been awarded $324,000 to historically preserve the Proctor House. This project will restore, replace, and upgrade anything necessary structurally and aesthetically for the home. This project will benefit residents in Crawford County by saving the only building within the county on the National Register.
STORMWATER IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM:
The Stormwater Improvement Program (SIP) strives to reduce flooding, to cut stormwater treatment and energy costs, to protect rivers, lakes and vital landscape, and to generate jobs and spur economic revitalization. Types of activities that are eligible for grant funding from SIP include stormwater improvements as well as demolition and/or clearance.
The Town of Hebron has been awarded $500,000 to install new stormwater drainage infrastructure within three inter-related areas of the Town of Hebron to control flooding. Construction of these facilities will reduce flooding on the adjacent streets and reduce stormwater overflows, which contribute to flooding.
The Town of Shoals has been awarded $500,000 for stormwater drainage improvements. This project will complete a comprehensive storm drainage project for the Town of Shoals, focusing on areas of South Main Street, Lynwood Street, High Street, and Poplar Street. These improvements are key to alleviating the drainage issues for all residents of the town.
The Town of Dugger has been awarded $300,000 for stormwater improvements to reduce standing water during and after events. These flooding events have created safety and health hazards to the general public. Residents will benefit from a reduction of standing water in the streets, yards, and homes of the community.
The Town of Oxford has been awarded $500,000 for the construction of stormwater improvements. This project will make critical improvements to the town’s stormwater system to help prevent flooding of residential areas. It will benefit residents within the project area who have experienced consistent flooding problems for many years.
WASTEWATER DRINKING WATER PROGRAM
The goals of the Wastewater Drinking Water Program (WDW) are to protect the health and environment, reduce utility rates for low-to-moderate income communities, and improve rural infrastructure to enable long-term economic growth. Eligible WDW projects include many aspects of wastewater improvements and drinking water system improvements.
Switzerland County has been awarded $700,000 for rehabilitation of the East Enterprise wastewater treatment facilities. This project will rehabilitate the treatment plant and enable the operation of the system to meet required standards and efficiencies. It will benefit residents of the East Enterprise area of Switzerland County by providing safe wastewater treatment compliant with Indiana Department of Environmental Management standards.
The City of Peru has been awarded $550,000 for improvements to their water systems. The project consists of improvements to the city’s wells and treatment facilities and distribution systems. It will benefit residents by providing a reliable water system with quality water, also working to keep water bills at an affordable rate.
The Town of Royal Center has been awarded $500,000 for wastewater infrastructure improvements. This project will increase the capacity of the town’s wastewater systems; thereby, reducing the environmental impact and improving quality for Royal Center residents.
The Town of Silver Lake has been awarded $500,000 for construction of sanitary sewer improvements. This project will entail the construction of a 6 inch force main, instillation of new pumps, and the construction of four storm sewer lines to alleviate inflow/infiltration problems. This will benefits the residents of the Town of Silver Lake by reducing inflow/infiltration of the existing sanitary sewer system thus eliminating system wide sanitary sewer back-ups.
The Town of South Whitley has been awarded $550,000 for replacement and improvements to the drinking water systems. This project will replace and add lines, hydrants, and valves in selected areas and install a new iron filtration system in the water treatment plant. It will benefit residents who reside in town limits of South Whitley by improving the quality and safety of the drinking water.
The City of Attica has been awarded $550,000 a wastewater improvements project, working to rehabilitate equipment at the wastewater treatment plant for the City’s new National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. It will benefit residents within the entire City of Attica by improving water conditions and generally improving quality of life.
The City of Rensselaer has been awarded $550,000 for improvements to the existing water supply system. This project will include the construction of a new well for the city and a raw water line to connect the well to the existing water system. The project also includes the restoration of sidewalks, streets, and driveways. It will benefit the residents of the City of Rensselaer by providing adequate and clean water supplies.
The Town of Paoli has been awarded $500,000 for a wastewater improvements project, installing cured-in-place pipe along the east and west wastewater interceptor, cleaning and CCTV inspection, and the replacement or rehabilitation of manholes. The project will benefit residents by allowing the town to address the two IDEM Agreed Orders, which will enhance health and safety.
The Town of Elberfeld has been awarded $600,000 for expansions and upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant for increased capacity, to prevent hydraulic overload, and to comply with the IDEM 2007 Agreed Order. The project will benefit current residents by assisting them with reasonable sewer rates in the future, and works towards prevention of sewer overflows. Infrastructure investment is key to economic growth since it can preserve quality jobs and boost overall quality of life in the community.
Harrison County has been awarded $442,735 for water system improvements, including the installation of a 6-inch diameter water main and 13 fire hydrants in the community. The project will benefit residents by improving system carrying capacity and extending fire protection service into Western Harrison County.
The Town of Kentland has been awarded $500,000 for improvements to the town’s wastewater system. This project will construct critical improvements to the town’s wastewater treatment plant. It will benefit residents of the Town of Kentland by improving the wastewater treatment system to meet regulatory requirements.
Funding for the five programs – BCP, MSRP, PFP, SIP, and WDW comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program and is administered for the State of Indiana by OCRA.
Round 2 of the CDBG program, including the same 5 programs, will commence with letters of intent due on July 7th and final applications due September 1st.
SOURCE: News release from the Office of Indiana Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch