State grant of $700,000 for Gibsonburg will help give downtown a facelift
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GIBSONBURG – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur joined Gibsonburg Mayor Steve Fought in the announcement of a $700,000 grant in new village infrastructure funding at Logyard Park on Tuesday.
“Money like this hits a small community differently than a big city,” Fought said. “It’s a big historic day for our village.”
The Ohio Department of Transportation grant of $700,000 is part of the Transportation Alternative Program.
“That will take care of all brand-new sidewalks, crossings, traffic signals, street lights, curbs in the downtown area,” Fought said. “In addition to that, we will be replacing the infrastructure below that, waterlines, sewer. Redoing all of that stuff, with the infrastructure, and the overall beautification of the downtown will be resetting the tone for the downtown for the next 50 to 100 years.”
Infrastructure improvements help prepare for 'sound community'
More than 50 people showed up for the announcement in the park, with included architect’s illustrations.
“Finally we have made this big achievement, really it’s bringing your tax money back home,” Kaptur said. “Curb ramps, cross walks, street lights, traffic signals, ensure safety and ease of movement, for everyone, whether they are wheelchair bound or able to walk, this adds to safety.
“You, here in Gibsonburg, are preparing for a sound community. Your knowledge, what you are doing, with the investment in your own town, amounts to American progress. I’m proud to be here to congratulate you, as an Ohio member of Congress, I will be here to help you, regardless of where they gerrymander,” Kaptur said.
Fought explained Kaptur’s role in the funding, and future funding she is behind.
“Those funds, through ODOT, are federal funds. She was part of that. She’s also put in a request for an additional $2 million, in the latest congressional spending bill, being voted on later this fall,” Fought said. “She got behind our project. She reached out to our office and said that she wanted to put this into the bill. It’s not a done deal. It’s got to be debated in Congress, but we feel pretty confident of getting at least some more funds.”
The funding actually will become available to the city in 2027.
The event was held at the new Logyard Park, which is in the final stretch of completion, with only landscaping to be finished. It is Phase 1 of the village beautification project. State Sen. Bill Reineke, R-Tiffin, and Rep. Gary Click, R-Vickery, secured $150,000 of capital budget funding in 2022 for that initial phase.
Fought said the original application for the second phase of a larger village beautification project was for $1.3 million, which would have had a $500,000 match. The new lower matching amount is expected to be about half that, but Fought said the village is still waiting on confirmation of the new number.
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This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Marcy Kaptur, Steve Fought announce Gibsonburg infrastructure grant
