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Monroe County hoping to secure $750,000 federal CDBG funding

ounty officials held a second public hearing to discuss the potential $750,000 grant that could benefit numerous community improvement projects.

The public hearing was held during the Monroe County Board of Commissioners regularly scheduled meeting Monday morning.

Mary Jo Westfall, Ohio State University Extension Office associate, met with Commissioners Mick Schumacher, Tim Price and Carl Davis to discuss the Neighborhood Revitalization Grant funding and the local projects that will benefit from it.

“We are required to hold hearing number two to list the final slate of projects that’s going into the application for funding and we can receive any final comments from the people attending,” Westfall said following the meeting.

The NRG is an extension of the Community Development Block Grant program. It is a competitive funding source that aims to improve low-to moderate-income communities by providing funds for various projects.

The second public hearing is one of the final steps prior to the application’s submission June 17, Westfall said.

In March, commissioners selected Center Township, including the village of Woodsfield, as the target area for the funding. Dozens of villages and townships submitted projects, however only one target area is eligible to receive the NRG funding per submission.

Westfall submitted the final list of projects that will be included in the revitalization funding with their costs to commissioners during Monday’s meeting.

∫ Street improvements including replacing and installing road signs on various township roads — $11,000;

∫ Flood and drainage facilities including replacing culverts on various township roads –$145,400;

∫ Parks and recreation facilities including paving the walking trail; seal, paint lines and install netting on the tennis court — $159,900;

∫ Fire protection facilities and equipment including replacing 14 fire hydrants — $216,500;

∫ Neighborhood facilities including replacing the roof, repointing brickwork and masonry work on the Monroe Theatre — $279,300;

∫ General administration –$19,600.

“There’s a lot of good projects in there,” Westfall said.

The total cost of the projects is $831,700. $81,700 is Revolving Loan Funds that the county is mandated to spend, she said.

Westfall said the county will find out if they have been selected to receive the $750,000 grant in August. She said she thinks the county has a strong chance in securing the funding this year.

“I think we do,” she said, adding that “It’s shaping up to be a pretty strong application, in my opinion. You just don’t know who your competition is. … You don’t know who or what you’re up against. Every year is different,”

Commissioners unanimously approved the projects and the application. It will now be submitted to the state late next week.

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