Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik announced last week that the Adams County Board of Commissioners had been awarded money to improve sewer requirements in the Cherry Fork area.
The funding is part of the sixth round of the Ohio BUILDS (Broadband, Utilities, and Infrastructure for Local Development Success) Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Grant Program. Funding will provide $84.5 million in support of 43 new critical infrastructure projects and $38.2 million in gap funding for 33 previously funded projects with costs that exceeded initial estimates.
In Adams County, the state has awarded $2,969,440 in funding to complete sanitary sewer improvements in Wayne Township. The area of Cherry Fork was deemed a public health nuisance by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Homes in the area are currently served by on-site septic systems and are required to connect to public sewers. The project will entrail installing 4,250 feet of sewer line, which will be pumped into the Village of Winchester sewer system. The state says that this will serve as the regional wastewater treatment facility for northern Adams County.
Since 2021, the Ohio BUILDS Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Grant Program has provided a total of nearly $620 million to support hundreds of local water projects in all of Ohio’s 88 counties.
“The investments we’ve made through this program have been transformational in many Ohio communities,” said Governor DeWine. “The projects we’re funding are about more than new pipes – they’re about protecting the health and wellbeing of Ohioans across the state.”
The grants announced last week will help reduce or eliminate the financial burden community leaders face in addressing 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 sewer system backups, and extend sewer lines to support economic growth.
“Investments in our communities’ infrastructure are key to expanding sites for new businesses and housing that the people who work at these businesses will need to live and thrive,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “This program is a key part of our efforts to ensure every community has the foundation in place to improve the quality of life to make Ohio a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”
The program received 703 grant applications for this round, requesting more than $1.4 billion in funding, demonstrating the continued need for water infrastructure improvements across the state.
