Just announced today from the Lt. Governor’s office:
Lt. Governor Crouch and the Office of Community and Rural Affairs Award Infrastructure and Non-Infrastructure Grant Funding to 28 Communities
October 12, 2017
INDIANAPOLIS – Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs(OCRA) announced today nearly $14 million in federal grant funding was awarded to 28 rural Hoosier communities across 5 programs.
Applications for Round 2 of the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) were due to OCRA on September 1, 2017. 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.
“As Indiana’s Secretary of Rural Development, I’m excited that we’re awarding $14 million to 28 rural communities across Indiana,” said Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch. “These Community Development Block Grants will spur economic revitalization and community development, promote health and well-being, and help cities, towns and counties improve their quality of place and residents’ quality of life.”
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.
Projects receiving Blight Clearance Program grant funding:
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The City of Batesville has been awarded $114,500 for clearance and demolition of a vacant and dilapidated service station. This project will benefit residents by removing a blighted and deteriorating structure, clearing the site, and bringing the property one step closer to redevelopment.
The Town of Farmersburg has been awarded $234,000 for clearance and demolition of the Hammond’s Garage facility. This will benefit residents by eliminating a blighted structure that possess a health and safety risk to the community.
The City of Marion has been awarded $350,000 for clearance and demolition of the former DanMar Apartment building at 239 W. Third Street in Marion. This project will eradicate and replace an unsafe structure with green space. This will benefit residents as proposed in the Marion 2030 Comprehensive Plan/Central Marion Revitalization Plan.
The Town of Roann has been awarded $350,000 for clearance and demolition of the old Roann School. This will benefit residents by eliminating a blighted structure that possess a safety risk to the community.
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.
Projects receiving Main Street Revitalization Program grant funding:
The Town of Cicero has been awarded $403,000 for façade improvements to the City’s downtown business district. The project will historically preserve the downtown commercial district creating a vibrant downtown area.
The Town of Pendleton has been awarded $500,000 for façade improvements for five buildings, wayfinding signage and the installation of speakers and PA systems in the downtown commercial district. This project will benefit residents by increasing the attraction of new businesses and restaurants to Historic Downtown Pendleton.
The City of Vincennes has been awarded $500,000 for façade improvements for nine properties on Main Street along 1st Street and 11th Street. This project will benefit the residents by addressing building concerns and making Downtown Vincennes a more inviting place to live, work and shop.
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.
Projects receiving Public Facilities Program grant funding:
Clinton County has been awarded $500,000 for the construction of a new fire station. This project involves the construction of a new fire station to house fire fighting personnel, fire trucks, firefighting equipment and other general office items. The facility will provide a safe working environment for the firemen, this allowing them to respond and protect the citizens of the unincorporated Town of Forest, Indiana.
Daviess County has been awarded $500,000 for the construction of a pole barn style fire station in Washington Township, Daviess County, Indiana. The project will consist of the demolition of the existing building and constructing a new building to best suit the needs of the fire department for years to come.
Jennings County has been awarded $500,000 for the construction of a new fire station. This project involves the construction of a fire station with five truck bays, meeting room, warming kitchen, laundry and restrooms. It will benefit the residents within the Campbell Township Volunteer Fire Department service area by providing a facility so that the volunteer fire persons can respond to all types of emergencies within the district.
The Town of Lakeville has been awarded $500,000 for the renovation and expansion of the existing Lakeville Union Fire and EMS station. The renovation will include updates to HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems and enlarge the space to accommodate the relocation of EMS personnel and equipment.
The City of Lawrenceburg has been awarded $360,000 for the rehabilitation of the Dearborn Adult Center. This project will rehabilitate the common areas, improve the removal of unsafe areas, and expand safety and efficiency features. It will benefit the residents by providing a facility that offers enrichment, social and educational opportunities for the area’s growing senior population.
The City of Rockport has been awarded $500,000 to historically preserve and stabilize a blighted 1870 building that has been vacant since an auto parts store closed in 2011. The front façade, windows and transom will be restored. Restoring this building will allow the City of Rockport to attract future businesses and entrepreneurs into the downtown area.
The City of Union City has been awarded $500,000 for the construction of a new daycare center. This project includes the complete interior redesign of an existing 10,000 square foot building to meet the requirements of a state licensed day care center. The day care center will benefit children up to the age of 6.
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.
Projects receiving Stormwater Improvement Program grant funding:
The Town of Camden has been awarded $500,000 to install new stormwater drainage infrastructure to include drainage pipes, concrete catch basins, manholes and restoration to work areas. This project will benefit the residents of Camden by eliminating property damage caused by flooding; reduce safety hazards from motorists hydroplaning during flood events and make town sidewalks accessible to citizens at all times.
The Town of Fairview Park has been awarded $500,000 for stormwater drainage improvements. This project will drastically improve stormwater conveyance with the construction of stormwater pipe to include large capacity pipes and other drainage related structures. This will benefit the residents by not increasing their monthly stormwater bills along with providing the project area with a remedy to flooding yards and garages.
The Town of Worthington has been awarded $500,000 for stormwater improvements to include new inlets and sewers, rehabilitation of existing storm sewers and installation of new drywells. Residents will benefit from a reduction in public and private property.
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.
Projects receiving Wastewater Drinking Water Program grant funding:
The Town of Centerville has been awarded $650,000 for improvements to the town’s wastewater treatment plant and collection system. This project will construct a new equalization basin with a disinfection system at the wastewater treatment plant along with replacing sewer main from the wastewater treatment plant to US 40. It will benefit all the residents of Centerville by reducing sewage backups into their homes and yards.
The Town of Chalmers has been awarded $650,000 for improvements to their wastewater collection system and wastewater treatment plant. The project consists of improvements to the city’s sewers and equalization basin. It will benefit residents by decreasing infiltration and inflow throughout the system thereby reducing surcharge sewage from manholes and chemical treatment costs.
The City of Clinton has been awarded $600,000 for wastewater infrastructure improvements. This project will provide upgrades and replacements of water mains along with the installation of hydrants and isolation valves in various locations throughout the system. The residents will benefit by this project by not experiencing increased monthly water bills.
The Town of Coatesville has been awarded $650,000 for construction of sanitary sewer and wastewater treatment plant improvements. This project will make improvements by lining the manholes in Amo, rehabilitating five lift stations in Coatesville and replacing aging equipment at the wastewater treatment plant. It will benefit residents by addressing a failing wastewater treatment plant and help keep wastewater rates affordable for their residents.
The Town of Edinburgh has been awarded $450,000 for improvements to the wastewater system. This project will help maximize flow to the wastewater treatment plant and re-grade the basins for proper water drainage. This will benefit the residents by improving the health and safety of all residents.
The Town of Lynnville has been awarded $600,000 for improvements to the wastewater treatment plant and three lift stations. This project upgrades the wastewater treatment plant by installing a new equalization tank as well as a new sludge manifold and pump. It will benefit current residents by assisting them with reasonable sewer rates in the future and prevent sanitary overflow on infiltration/inflow issues.
The Town of Owensville has been awarded $600,000 for wastewater collection rehabilitation to rectify excessive inflow and infiltration that has led to the Town of Owensville in receiving an Indiana Department of Environmental Management Sewer Ban Early Warning Notice. The project will consist of sanitary sewer collection system cleaning and televising followed by cured-in-place pipe installation in various areas. It will benefit the residents of Owensville by eliminating public health threats.
The City of Salem has been awarded $550,000 for improvements to the wastewater treatment plant. The project will make improvements to their wastewater treatment plant that was severely damaged in a flood event that the City experiences in May of 2017. It will benefit residents by addressing a severely damaged and failing wastewater treatment plant and help keep wastewater rates affordable to the residents.
The Town of Shirley has been awarded $550,000 for improvements to the wastewater collection and treatment plant. This project will provide environmental relief by eliminating the chronic discharge violations that are caused by the excessive infiltration/inflow in the collection system. These improvements will result in reduced maintenance, higher efficiency and better operating conditions.
The Town of Uniondale has been awarded $650,000 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 Uniondale by improving the wastewater treatment system to meet regulatory requirements.
The Town of Winamac has been awarded $550,000 for improvements to the water system. This project will construct a new raw water transmission main from the well field to the existing water treatment plant as well as installing two water wells. This will benefit the residents by replacing aging wells and provide clean drinking water.
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.
An additional 2017/2018 round of the CDBG program, including the same 5 programs, will commence with proposals due on December 1, 2017 and final applications due February 9, 2018.
For more information about these programs, contact Matt Crouch at mcrouch@ocra.in.gov.
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Under the leadership of Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, who also serves as the Secretary of Rural Development, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs‘ (OCRA) mission is to work with local, state, and national partners to provide resources and technical assistance to assist communities in shaping and achieving their vision for community and economic development. For more information, visit www.ocra.in.gov. |