Weathersfield soon will receive its allotment of the state’s nearly $11 million in Community Development Block Grant funding awarded to 51 communities.

The county was awarded $632,000 from the Ohio Department of Development program, which is up from the $578,000 the county received in the last round of funding in 2023. Julie Green, director of the county planning commission, said the award is an allocation the county receives every two years. Mahoning County will get its allocation in 2026 after it received funding in 2024.

Weathersfield will use its funding for the Crain Drive sanitary sewer project, which will provide sanitary sewer to structures located on Anderson Morris Road, Bianco Avenue, Carl Street, Crain Drive, Forest Avenue, Gardenland Street, Oakwood Avenue, St. Francis Avenue and Wabash Avenue.

The planning commission will contact project beneficiaries in 2026 to begin the income qualification process for low- and moderate-income household connections once mainline construction is substantially complete. Jim Davies, chairman of the planning commission, said the county commissioners committed $350,000 from their American Rescue Plan funds towards this project to reduce the debt burden for project beneficiaries.

Davies said in March and April, the planning commission staff initiated, compiled and submitted a $1 million federal appropriation request for the Crain Drive sanitary sewer. The request was submitted to state officials as Trumbull County’s third-highest priority project.

The commission also drafted and submitted the other two appropriation requests on behalf of the commissioners. One is new fire hydrants in Girard and the other is the rebuilding of a portion of Donley Road in Mesopotamia.

“Every strong community is built on a solid foundation,” Gov. Mike DeWine said in a news release. “Not only will this funding help improve everyday life for more families today, it will create the conditions needed to attract growth and opportunity in the future.”

“When we invest in things like safer streets, cleaner water, better parks and essential services for Ohioans of all ages, we can see the impact in our communities every single day,” said ODOD Director Lydia Mihalik. “Each of these projects will go a long way in ensuring our friends and neighbors can live, work and play in places that meet their everyday needs.”

Girard Mayor Mark Zuppo said the $175,000 the city is receiving will be used for 15 new fire hydrants for the Parkwood area in the 4th Ward.

“This is part of our preventative maintenance program of continuing to update fire hydrants throughout the city,” Zuppo said.

He said the new hydrants are expected to benefit 676 people in that area, noting the new hydrants will mean updated protection for the residents when the hydrants are needed for emergencies.

Weathersfield Township Administrator David Rouan said the Crain Drive project was made possible with help from the Trumbull County Planning Commission and the Trumbull Sanitary Engineer’s Office, which secured funds for the project.

“There have been several projects on Crain Drive. This is one that is needed to get sanitary and storm sewers to the area,” he said.

Rouan said the funds will be used to complete construction of sanitary, storm sewers and manholes along Crain Drive, benefiting 170 residents.