Hocking County holds second public hearing on CDBG application; proposes projects in Logan and Laurelville

Hocking County held its second public hearing on a 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application on June 5, during which county staff described proposed projects for the City of Logan and the Village of Laurelville and asked the commission to approve and sign the required application documents.

County staff said Hocking County intends to apply to the Ohio Department of Development under the Small Cities CDBG program, which the county is eligible to use. The hearing materials presented an allocation-match package and a neighborhood revitalization grant (NRG) application. The county also provided an environmental review certificate and a residential anti-displacement and relocation assistance plan that require commission signatures for the application.

The county listed a City of Logan Neighborhood Revitalization Grant program with an estimated total project cost of $787,600, including $700,000 for construction, $50,000 for administration, and a $37,600 allocation match. Staff said identified activities include sidewalk and paving work on Third Street, flood and drainage improvements downtown (including about 16 catch basins and roughly 1,000 feet of piping), and upgrades at Lingo Park; final scope depends on the contractor estimates still pending.

For the Village of Laurelville, staff proposed applying for Critical Infrastructure (CI) grant funds of up to $500,000. The draft budget for that project listed an estimated total project cost of $582,405, including $470,000 for construction, $30,000 for administration, and an $82,400 allocation match.

Staff explained the county also intends to include $30,000 for administration and fair housing activities in the application, and that the county is eligible to apply for Neighborhood Revitalization Grant funding up to $750,000. Staff said the anti-displacement plan is included as a precaution; because the planned work is street, sidewalk and drainage improvements, they do not expect residential displacement.

After the presentation, the board voted to approve and sign the three required application documents: the residential anti-displacement and relocation assistance plan, the authorizing resolution/letter on county letterhead, and the environmental review certificate. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

Why it matters: the grants would fund local infrastructure and neighborhood improvements targeted to benefit low- and moderate-income residents, and signing the application documents is a required step to secure state-administered federal CDBG funds. Final project scope and the length of street segments to be improved were described as contingent on pending contractor estimates.