WAUSEON, OH – The Fulton County Commissioners have recently received word from the State of Ohio’s Office of Community Development (OCD) that they have been awarded a $300,000 Competitive Set-Aside Grant for the Wauseon Downtown Revitalization Grant. Out of ten applications submitted to the State of Ohio, Wauseon was one of five applicants approved to participate in the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Downtown Revitalization Program.
Earlier this year, Fulton County Regional Planning Director David Wright applied for the grant. “A similar request was denied last year,” notes Wright, “but I thought it was worth a chance to re-apply this year with a slightly different angle. Our persistence paid off!” Wright notes that the full grant has been awarded to Wauseon with $270,000 of 1 to 1 match grant funding that will be available until August 2016 to Building/Business Owners located in the Wauseon Target Area (boundary map enclosed). Any balance not spent on eligible projects within that timeframe will be forfeited back to the State.
This grant could help the City of Wauseon’s downtown stakeholders in a variety of activities such as façade improvements, roof replacement, HVAC/R system repairs or upgrades, tuck pointing, window replacements, electrical and/or plumbing upgrades, entryway repair, ADA compliance, signage and fire protection.
“This is an exciting time for Wauseon’s Historic Downtown,” notes Wright who states that in addition to the $270,000 allocated strictly to Building/Business Owners, there is additional funding that has been approved locally to assist in the upgrade of ADA ramps and crosswalks, new metal benches, and metal trash receptacles all to be located in the Wauseon Target Area. The City of Wauseon, by resolution, has also dedicated $20,000 per year for the next five years for revitalization projects.
Wright states that he is encouraging any Business/Building Owners in the downtown Wauseon target area who are interested in applying for this funding for improvements or wanting more information should contact him at his office. “Success in this program will offer many other economic and community development opportunities for years to come,” he states. He may be reached at 419-337-9214 or via email at dwright@fultoncountyoh.com. The Fulton County Regional Planning Commission office is located at 123 Courthouse Plaza, Suite 1, Wauseon, OH.