OSS grant committee awards funds $48K for recycling projects in three counties

FREMONT - Applications for the June round of funding for the OSS Competitive Funding Grant have been reviewed by the grant committee. Director Gary Baty presented the applications and their grades made by the committee for board review and approval.

The OSS grant committee comprises one representative from each of the three counties to grade the applications on a scorecard. Grants are then compiled in order of highest grading to lowest, and funding is provided as budgeted. This year, OSS budgeted a total of $100,000 for the CFG program to be split in two rounds offunding — once in January and again in June.

Total amount funded for the June round of the CFG was $48,729.29.

Area organizations receive grants for recyclables

Winning applicants for this June round are as follows:

Sandusky Township — With an average grade of 74, Sandusky Township requested $10,000 in funding on a $16,130.00 project to replace wooden picnic tables in eight shelter houses with two 100% recycled plastic benches per shelter house (16 tables total).

Village of Clay Center — With an average grade of 70, the Village of Clay Center requested $4,225 on a $5,640.00 project of replacing wood mulch at the Village Park play area with 100% recycled rubber mulch.

Bloomville Development Group — Received an average grade of 68 for their grant project to enhance the appearance of the downtown district with four benches, two commercial flower pots and two trash receptacles made from recycled content. The total project will cost $9,244 and they requested $6,426 from OSS through the grant.

Village of Woodville — Requested funding for a project to install a pet waste station for the village park as well as a message center board, both made from recycled materials. Funding requested for the project was $2,941 and the total project would cost $3,375. Average score for this grant was 64.

Marblehead, Ottawa County Parks awarded funds

Village of Marblehead — This project for the village would add five benches and five trash receptacles to James Park made from recycled material. The grant funding requested was $8,346 on a $11,129 project. Score of the application by the grant committee was 63.

Ottawa County Parks — Ottawa County Parks requested $885 on a $1,180 project for a new sign for restrooms at Veterans Park in Genoa that will be made from recycled material. Average score for this grant was 61.

Allen Township — Allen Township will be installing a new “Welcome to Curtice” sign made from recycled plastic. The total project will cost $2,100 and funding requested through the grant will cover $1,575 of the project. Average score from the grant committee was 61.

Seneca Conservation District — A project at the Proving Ground Farm to replace a pedestrian bridge on the hiking trail using recycled composite deck material as well as adding more trash and three recycling receptacles made from recycled materials. Average score was a 60 on the grant application that requested $3,710.20 from OSS on a project that would total $5,346.29.

Big Spring Township — Requested $836.39 on a total project of $1,115.19 to purchase four folding tables made from recycled plastics for various township events. Grades for this grant averaged a 59.

Tiffin University — To provide 10 recycled content Adirondack chairs and eight gliders for student use in outdoor common areas, Tiffin University requested $6,436.00 on a project totaling $9,456.00. Average grade by the grant committee was 58.

Clyde-Green Springs Schools — Submitted a grant to help fund a project to install a GAGA ball pit at Green Springs Elementary School made from recycled content for students regardless of their abilities to be able to play. Funding requested for the project was $3,143.70 and the total project cost totaled $4,191.60. Average grade by the grant committee was 56.

The mission of the Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca Joint Solid Waste Management District is to ensure quality waste stream management for its residents and to foster long term positive solid waste habits including recycling, reduction, reusing and buying of recycled products.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: OSS grant committee awards funds for recycling projects