Twenty-five rural Indiana communities have been awarded more than $12.8 million in federal grant funding to upgrade water infrastructure and to focus on blighted properties.
“These grants are important for our rural communities to continue their economic and community development,” Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch said in a press release. “Not only does this funding help address blight and water infrastructure issues, but also is an important investment to improving the quality of life and quality of place for Hoosiers.”
The Wastewater/Drinking Water Program aims to protect the health and environment, cut utility rates for low-to moderate-income communities and better rural infrastructure to enable long-term economic growth.
• A total of $700,000 has been awarded to Cambridge City to update the
water distribution system.
• Dale has been given $700,000 to upgrade and improve the wastewater collection system.
• A total of $700,000 has been awarded to Dillsboro to upgrade the town’s drinking water system.
• Edinburgh has been allocated $700,000 to build a new dual-media water treatment plant. This funding will also support the creation of new drives at wells, new motors and pumps, and the construction of a new water well.
• Elizabethtown has been awarded $700,000 for upgrades on the town’s wastewater infrastructure.
• A total of $700,000 has been allocated to Greencastle for the renovation of a main line. This work will also include the installation of new fire hydrants as well as new valves that will upgrade fire protection.
• Hazleton has been awarded $700,000 for upgrades to the wastewater system.
• Kingman has been allocated $700,000 for wastewater infrastructure rehabilitation.
• Kingsford Heights has been awarded $700,000 to replace 24 hydrants, 550 water meters, and 24 hydrants.
• Patriot has been awarded $487,011 to replace one lift station, rehabilitate one lift station and remove one lift station.
• Randolph County has been awarded $600,000 for water infrastructure improvements in the towns of Modoc and Losantville.
• Trafalgar has been awarded $700,000 for wastewater improvements.
The Blight Clearance Program focuses on long-term community development and revitalization, creating jobs and pushing economic revitalization. Qualified work includes the elimination of deteriorated or abandoned downtown buildings or unusable industrial sites.
• Cannelton has been awarded $500,000 to rid hazardous environmental conditions at the former Can-Clay Corp. property.
• The amount of $75,000 has been granted to the town of Francisco for the demolition and clearance of the old “IOOF” building located on State Road 64.
• Knox has been granted $137,674 to demolish the former Moose Lodge building.
• Linton has been awarded $324,450 to eliminate the abandoned Eagles Building located on Vincennes Street.
• The amount of $333,070 has been awarded to Miami County to clear a blighted, unsafe building that has a history of vandalism, lack of structural soundness and environmental problems with asbestos.
• Patoka has been allocated $100,000 for the demolition of the Old Patoka School, located on South Main Street.
• Sharpsville has been awarded $255,100 to rid a blighted structure, known as the Cheese Factory.
• Silver Lake has been awarded $350,000 to eradicate the Lake Township School.
• A total of $500,000 has been given to Union City for the demolition of four commercial buildings.
The Stormwater Improvement Program aims to reduce flooding, cut stormwater treatment and energy costs, protect rivers, lakes and important landscape and create jobs to spur economic revitalization. Eligible projects for this funding include stormwater improvements, as well as demolition and/or clearance.
• The sum of $441,387 has been granted to Clinton to rehabilitate failing drainage systems and reduce flooding.
• The amount of $600,00 has been granted to Fountain City for improvements to the town’s storm water system.
• Oolitic has been granted $600,000 to reduce flooding.
• Walton has been granted $509,155 to improve stormwater flow throughout the town.