Hocking County holds second public hearing on 2025 CDBG applications, approves related documents

Hocking County commissioners on June 5 held a second public hearing on the county—s 2025 Community Development Block Grant application and approved three standard application documents required by the Ohio Department of Development.

A county staff member read the public notice and described three proposed activities being considered for inclusion in the county—s CDBG application to the state: a City of Logan Neighborhood Revitalization Grant (NRG) project; a Village of Laurelville critical infrastructure project; and the application—s administration and fair-housing components. The commissioners then voted to sign the residential anti-displacement and relocation assistance plan, the authorizing legislation on county letterhead and the environmental review certificate.

The staff presentation listed program and project estimates provided by local officials. For the City of Logan NRG the materials show an estimated total project cost of $787,600, including $700,000 for construction, $50,000 for administration and a $37,600 allocation match. The county stated it is eligible to apply for the CDBG Neighborhood Revitalization Grant program for up to $750,000. For the Village of Laurelville critical infrastructure application the packet lists an estimated total project cost of $582,405, with $470,000 allocated to construction, $30,000 for administration and an $82,400 allocation match.

Staff said the Laurelville critical-infrastructure work focuses on a downtown-area flood and drainage improvement including roughly 16 catch basins and about 1,000 feet of piping (estimates pending final engineering). Commissioners and staff said final project length and scope will depend on complete cost estimates from engineers.

Commissioners approved the three application documents by voice vote after a motion. The items approved were: the residential anti-displacement and relocation assistance plan; the authorizing resolution/legislation on county letterhead (prepared by county staff); and the environmental review certificate, which staff said exempts certain administrative and fair-housing components from further environmental review.

Why it matters: CDBG dollars are federal funds distributed by the state; counties must follow a public-notice and public-hearing process and adopt anti-displacement and environmental documentation before applying. If awarded, the listed projects would fund street, sidewalk, drainage, and related neighborhood improvements intended to benefit low- and moderate-income residents in the named communities.

Next steps: Staff said final cost estimates remain pending; the commissioners signed the application paperwork so staff can submit the county—s CDBG application to the Ohio Department of Development.