MAYNARD — The residents of Maynard and Crescent can look forward to some upcoming street paving after a wait of about 30 years, thanks to some unprecedented cooperation from townships.

Colerain Township Trustee Jeff Gazdik said Union and Colerain Townships were awarded a grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission, bringing $574,850 of paving to the area.

“Two townships have never gotten together and did a joint grant through the Ohio Public Works Commission,” Gazdik said. “With two townships combined, it can make your project bigger, which means you can get more money.”

He said this includes all streets for an estimated cost of $423,587 and paving and replacing a culvert on Muller Road for an estimated cost of $151,263.

Gazdik said the townships were receiving 49% in grant funding, 26% in matching funds and 25% in a loan.

He and Union Township Trustee Justin DeMarchi originally decided to combine the projects in the summer of 2021.

The grant did not receive sufficient points then and they reapplied in 2022, successfully.

“It was awarded in December, the first week in December,” Gazdik said. “It’s out to bid right now. We’ll open the bids on April 6.”

Paving will likely begin in the middle of summer and take two to three weeks. About 150 to 175 people residing on the streets will be impacted.

He and DeMarchi said cooperation seems more likely for local entities applying for future projects.

“It was successful and we’re proud of it and we want to show the residents that we’re trying to get these grants,” Gazdik said. “They’re very competitive.”

DeMarchi said OPWC funding was vital to townships.

“This is our only source of grants,” he said. “Cities and villages have all kind, the federal government always sends them money. We don’t get that. This is our only option.”

He said the county OPWC board will award points to bigger projects that will bring more money back to Belmont County.

“With us, our budget, we can’t put in a $700-$800,000 project by ourselves. So we have to combine,” DeMarchi said. “It’s great to see two entities working together. This is a big deal.”

Cooperative and joint projects appear to be a growing trend. Recently, Pultney Township, the village of Shadyside and Belmont County have also submitted a combined project for review. That one was not successful.

Streets that will be paved in Maynard include Hall Street, Maynard Hill, Maynard Main, Broad Street, Loretta Avenue, Bright Street, Church Street, Jug Run Road, and Jug Run Extension. In Crescent will be Front Street, Center Street and Crescent Alley.