WMVO Good Times Great Oldies
MOUNT VERNON, February 9, 2023 – The City of Mount Vernon is not alone when it comes to
meeting the challenge of updating its aging water and wastewater infrastructure.
Recognizing a need, the State in 2021 created the Ohio Water and Wastewater Infrastructure
Grant Program, which quickly received more than 1,200 grant applications requesting nearly $1.4
billion in utilities infrastructure funding. The City of Mount Vernon was among the many
municipalities, in Knox County and beyond, to apply for this initial funding, with the villages of
Danville and Centerburg receiving grants for their infrastructure projects in the program’s first
round.
On Jan. 6, 2023, Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 45, which will provide an additional $250
million in funding through the Ohio Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Grant Program. A week
later the State Department of Development notified the City of Mount Vernon and other previous
applicants that they would be eligible for this new round of funding, and the City promptly provided
the State with updated information to confirm its eligibility.
The City seeks to fund the following infrastructure projects through this program:
● Buckeye Addition Waterline Extension
● Clintonville Subdivision Storm, Wastewater and Water Line Improvements
● Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements
● Pittsburgh Avenue Waterline Extension
● Fairgrounds Road Water and Wastewater Line Extension
● Parrot Street Wastewater Line Extension
“Clean drinking water is part of the foundation for a good quality of life, yet too many communities in
Ohio can’t reliably provide residents with this basic necessity due to crumbling infrastructure that has
been too expensive to fix,” Gov. DeWine said upon announcing the creation of the Ohio Water and
Wastewater Infrastructure Grant Program in 2021.
“Water quality isn’t just about protecting our health, it’s also about our quality of life and our economic
future,” added Lt. Gov. Jon Husted.
The State created the grant program to reduce or eliminate the local financial burden associated
with critical infrastructure needs, such as the construction of new water systems, the replacement of
aging water lines, and the installation of new water mains. Grants are also funding projects to prevent
sewer system backups and replace failing household sewage treatment systems with new sewers.
The City of Mount Vernon is excited for the potential to receive external funding for its critical projects,
and is thankful to State legislators for allocating additional funds towards such an important need in
communities across the State.
