City receives $1M in federal funding for waterline extension; county gets $250K for paving

COSHOCTON − Two critical infrastructure projects in Coshocton County are getting federal funding, via community project funding requests by Rep. Troy Balderson of Ohio's 12th District, according to a press release from his office.

The City of Coshocton will receive $1 million to assist with extending waterlines to the Village of Warsaw and the main campus of River View Local Schools, which currently relies on its own water system. Integrating with the City of Coshocton’s water system will keep rates low for residents of Warsaw while also improving water quality and reliability.

Coshocton County will receive $255,000 to resurface County Road 16 from the City of Coshocton to the Village of West Lafayette. This stretch of roadway is of critical importance for residents of Coshocton, West Lafayette and Lafayette Township.

“I’d like to thank Coshocton County Engineer Fred Wachtel, the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association (OMEGA), Coshocton Mayor Mark Mills and Max Crown for their incredible help over the past year as we worked to identify where these federal dollars will go the furthest,” Balderson said. “We will now be able to improve the connectivity between Coshocton communities and expand access to clean, quality drinking water for families across the region.”

Erin Wright, director of infrastructure and community development for the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association, pointed out how waterline project will allow River View to reduce its operating costs. The district has been looking to save money where possible since the loss of tax revenue due to the closing of the American Electric Power Plant in Conesville. Extension of water to Warsaw will also open land for development to attract new businesses to the county which will provide additional employment opportunities for those impacted by the closure of the coal-fired power plant.

"The county will also be well-positioned for supply chain industries to support the nearby Intel development as well as to attract new residents as the county is less than an hour’s drive from Intel. This project exemplifies the collaboration of multiple political subdivisions working together to build a strong, resilient, sustainable infrastructure that is needed for community and economic development,” Wright said.

City of Coshocton Safety Service Director Max Crown thanked Balderson for his assistance in securing the funding. The city has also receiving funding for the project from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Appalachian Regional Commission.

Each year, members of Congress may submit community project funding requests during the annual appropriations process. Balderson works with local officials and county engineers to identify projects in need of financial assistance across the 12th Congressional District. The funds for these infrastructure projects were made available with the passage and enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Two infrastructure projects in Coshocton County get federal funding