(BEDFORD) – Today, Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch joined Lawrence County
officials to celebrate the county’s recent water improvement grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.
Lawrence County was awarded $600,000 for water and sewer improvements. This project consists of constructing a new wastewater treatment plant and building an activated sludge wastewater treatment system.
Additionally, the plant will replace the existing 1970s steel tank.
The current wastewater treatment plant was built in the mid to late 1970s and serves 117 residents and area businesses in the Briarwood and Judah area. Officials say that this utility service needs to be updated.
SIDC applied for a $700,000 grant through the Office of Community and Rural Affairs with Bynum Fanyo Utilities supplying the match.
“The project will not cost the county any money,” said Commissioner Rodney Fish. “Lawrence County will just serve as the conduit. There is a lot of potential for growth in this area.”
“By investing in our state’s water infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for regional growth and prosperity while improving the quality of life for our rural residents,” said Lt. Gov. Crouch.
“This grant will support a crucial improvement project that will help improve the quality of life for Lawrence County’s residents.”
Matt Crouch, Interim Executive Director of OCRA, was also in attendance to congratulate all who contributed to the grant’s success. “This grant was one of 24 Community Development Block Grants awarded on August 6, 2020,” said Crouch.
“Water infrastructure is a need that cannot be ignored, which is why OCRA is focused on ensuring this need across the state continues to receive federal funding.”
The State of Indiana distributes Community Development Block Grant funds to rural communities which assist units of local government with various community projects. Funding for OCRA’s CDBG programs originates from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program and is administered for the State of Indiana by OCRA.
For more information on this grant, visit www.in.gov/ocra/cdbg.htm.
