Knox County explores CDBG applications for Danville neighborhood, Berlin Township ADA ramp and water system projects
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Summary
At a March 24 public hearing, county staff and local officials outlined potential CDBG applications including a Danville neighborhood revitalization package, a Berlin Township ADA ramp and water/system improvements in Martinsburg and Danville; state applications are due June 10 and the county will hold a second hearing June 2.
Jillian Flowers, a representative from CDC of Ohio who assists Knox County with its grant programs, told the board on March 24 that HUD requires at least 51% of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) activities to benefit low- to moderate-income (LMI) people and summarized the amounts available to Ohio jurisdictions.
"It has to be at least 51% of all the grants must fund benefit low to moderate income persons," Flowers said, and added that Ohio estimates roughly $101 million in federal funds this cycle, with about $47 million for CDBG and $24 million for HOME funds.
Why it matters: those LMI thresholds determine which villages and townships can receive direct CDBG investments. Flowers said Knox County expects an allocation of approximately $156,000 for 2026 and that statewide competitive programs (including RPIG and neighborhood revitalization) have separate deadlines; the state told the county that applications are due on June 10, 2026. The county scheduled a second public hearing for June 2 at 10:00 a.m. to identify which projects it will submit.
Danville. Danville officials described a package of possible activities for a Neighborhood Revitalization Grant (NRG) that could include parks, sidewalks, street work and flood/drainage improvements. A Danville representative said the village is completing water-line work and has identified laterals and neighborhoods that need attention; roughly 110 laterals were flagged as potential problems for the sewer plant, a local presenter said.
Berlin Township ADA ramp. A Berlin Township representative described replacing a deteriorating 70-foot wood ADA ramp at the township house and repairing fractured block at the main entrance. Flowers gave rough cost estimates for the porch and ramp, saying the front porch is about $25,000 and the ramp about $15,000, and characterized the project as a strong candidate under a limited-clientele/ADA justification.
Water and infrastructure priorities. Flowers and local officials discussed Martinsburg and other villages that have used county or OPWC (Ohio Public Works Commission) funds in prior phases; speakers emphasized coordination between CDBG, OPWC and other state funding to time construction and maximize leveraging. An agency official flagged a local bridge on Johnstown/Lock Road in Hilliard Township that inspectors have marked as declining, estimating replacement costs in the order of $800,000 and noting the bridge could be a candidate for a critical infrastructure grant if the county documents need and timing.
What was decided. The board opened the public record and will collect additional materials and photos for potential bridge and infrastructure files; the county will hold a second public hearing on June 2 at 10:00 a.m., and statewide competitive applications are due June 10, 2026. County staff encouraged villages or townships with project ideas to submit them now so the county can prioritize limited open project slots and prepare pre-applications.
Next steps. County staff will continue community meetings, finalize the CDISC worksheet and return on June 2 to identify final projects for submission.
