Rep. McNally Announces $1,162,000 for Community Development Projects
COLUMBUS – State Rep. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) today announced $672K in funding for Mahoning County and $490K in funding for Columbiana County as part of the Ohio Department of Development’s (ODD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program allocations.
“I place a very high value on people’s housing safety, access, and affordability,” said Rep. McNally. “These federal resources and investments raise our quality of living without necessarily raising prices on people, and that is extremely important to me. I’m glad these dollars are flowing here because we need them.”
The federal CDBG Program provides annual grants on a formula basis to states, cities, and counties for the development of urban communities. The grants help to build housing infrastructure and expand economic opportunity for low- and moderate-income persons. It is intended to invest in infrastructure improvement projects including street repairs, sidewalk improvements, parks and recreation facilities, water and sewer line replacements, and community centers as well as public service projects including programs such as Meals on Wheels, health and wellness, and housing and homelessness assistance-all aimed at spurring economic growth and improving the quality of life for residents.
Mahoning County Commissioners will receive $672K, which they will use to conduct sidewalk improvements in Austintown Township, benefiting 770 residents. The county will also conduct street improvement in Beaver Township’s Woodworth Neighborhood, benefiting 95 residents, and street improvements in Milton Township’s Pickering Neighborhood, which will benefit 22 residents.
Columbiana County Commissioners will receive $490K, which they will use to conduct street resurfacing in the city of Lisbon, benefiting 150 people. The county will also provide funding for the city of Salem to conduct street resurfacing and sidewalk improvements by installing ADA-accessible ramps, benefiting 335 people. Finally, the county will provide funding to the village of Wellsville to conduct street resurfacing, which will benefit the entire community of 3,460 people.
“Thousands of taxpayers and residents in these communities are having their dollars work for them, as these federal grants decrease the likelihood of local governments coming to voters to make up for state disinvestment in their public infrastructure,” said Rep. McNally. “As we approach our next state budget, I will do whatever I can to get the state to do its part.”
Cities and counties considered U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development non-entitlement communities are eligible to apply for funds biannually. Ohio’s 101 eligible communities are divided between even and odd years of funding, with 49 communities receiving a total of $10,997,450 for 2024.