Governor, Patt-McDaniel announce $2.4 Million in downtown revitalization grants to communities

Governor Ted Strickland and Ohio Department of Development Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel today announced that six Ohio communities will receive $2.4 million to assist with the revitalization of their central business districts.  

"Our downtowns often showcase the best of what Ohio has to offer and keeping them strong and vibrant will help accelerate our state's economic recovery," Strickland said. "These six communities have demonstrated a commitment to jumpstarting their local economies by preserving the infrastructure that makes them unique.  Downtown revitalization grants will put Ohioans to work resurfacing pavement, installing curbs and sidewalks and rehabbing buildings in downtown business districts." 

The grants are awarded through the Comprehensive Downtown Revitalization Program, administered by the Ohio Department of Development's Office of Housing and Community Partnerships.  

The program helps communities revitalize their downtowns, eliminate blight, and create and retain job opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents.  The awards, which will leverage approximately $10.8 million of additional public and private funds, will help recipients complete major streetscape projects and renovate 137 building facades. 

"We are pleased to offer these grants which will help communities increase the vitality of their respective central business districts," said Patt-McDaniel. "Thriving downtowns are critical to ensuring our communities across Ohio are continuing to attract key business investments." 

The Comprehensive Downtown Revitalization Program grant recipients are: 

The City of Cambridge (Guernsey County) will receive a $400,000 grant to rehabilitate 23 building facades, resurface 3,200 linear feet of pavement, install safety enhancements and complete other code improvement projects. The project will leverage approximately $2.5 million of other public and private funds. 

The City of Defiance (Defiance County) will receive a $400,000 grant to rehabilitate 22 building facades, make seven building code corrections, construct a new municipal building, complete approximately 1,850 linear feet of street improvements, install approximately 1,420 linear feet of sanitary sewer line and complete other streetscape improvements. The project will leverage approximately $4.5 million of other public and private funds. 

The City of Napoleon (Henry County) will receive a $400,000 grant to rehabilitate 23 building facades, make 10 code improvements, resurface 1,650 linear feet of pavement and install 645 linear feet of storm sewer. The project will leverage approximately $1 million of other public and private funds. 

The Village of Waterville (Lucas County) will receive a $400,000 grant to rehabilitate 25 building facades; install 850 linear feet of curbs, 1,300 linear feet of sidewalks, 500 linear feet of waterline, 955 linear feet of gas line and 800 linear feet of drainage pipe.  The project will leverage approximately $893,000 of other public and private funds. 

The City of Wilmington (Clinton County) will receive a $400,000 grant to rehabilitate 24 building facades, make four building code improvements, provide design support services, and improve downtown signage, streets and sidewalks. The project will leverage approximately $1 million of other public and private funds. 

The City of Xenia (Greene County) will receive a $400,000 grant to rehabilitate 20 building facades, install curbs and sidewalks, and complete other improvements such as bike paths, murals, alley parking and downtown streetscape.  The project will leverage approximately $1 million of other public and private funds. 

The Comprehensive Downtown Revitalization Tier Two Program is funded with Community Development Block Grant Program funds.  The applications were rated on the following criteria:  program impact, strategy, feasibility, financing and community distress.