Lawrenceburg awarded $600,000 OCRA Community Development Block Grant for critical stormwater improvements adjacent to Doughty Road area.
INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 17, 2020) – Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs today announced 12 rural Hoosier communities will receive more than $8 million in federal grant funding to improve water infrastructure.
“These grants are vital to Indiana’s economic success as these projects should improve the quality of life in these rural communities,” Crouch said. “Collaborations between federal, state and local partners as they invest in the state’s water infrastructure is a win for Hoosiers as we work toward a stronger Indiana.”
“Ensuring rural communities have the necessary infrastructure in place has never been more crucial as we continue to cope with COVID-19,” said Denny Spinner, Executive Director of OCRA. “Indiana’s rural communities must have a foundation to build on to enable them to be on the road to recovery, and water projects such as these are essential as leaders focus on the health and safety needs of their residents. This is another example of state and local leadership coming together to improve the quality of life for Hoosiers across the state.”
The Stormwater Improvement Program strives to reduce flooding, to cut stormwater treatment and energy costs, to protect rivers, lakes and vital landscape and generate jobs to spur economic revitalization. Types of activities that are eligible for this grant funding include stormwater improvements, as well as demolition and/or clearance.
The City of Lawrenceburg is awarded $600,000 for flood drainage improvements. This project will rehabilitate storm drainage infrastructure in a high-flood prone area adjacent to Doughty Road. By replacing the sluice gate, backflow valve, and pump to the current systems and rehabilitating ditches in the area, it will prevent future flooding to the Doughty Road area.
Mayor Kelly Mollaun stated “On behalf of the City of Lawrenceburg, we are very thankful for the OCRA CDBG Grant Award. These critical and vital improvements will help ensure public life, health and safety are not impacted due to imminent system failure and potential flooding. We look forward to partnering with OCRA as we strive to address this critical area for stormwater improvements.”
Judy McAdams, Lawrenceburg Grant Administrator, shared how the tremendous local community support and overwhelming response from residents and business owners helped the team to “dig deep” thru the grant application process. Mike Clark, Director of Engineering for the City of Lawrenceburg said this is “a much needed improvement for the community.”
Funding for OCRA’s CDBG programs originates 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.
For more program information, visit in.gov/ocra/cdbg.htm