In a December 13 press release, the office of Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher announced that six communities statewide were successful in receiving grants under the Ohio Department of Development’s annual Comprehensive Downtown Revitalization Tier II program. Four of the six recipient communities are located in Northwest Ohio.

In Van Wert, the money will be joined by Transportation Enhancement grant funding and other public and private investment totaling some $1.6 million. The result will be building and code improvements for over 20 local businesses, street and sidewalk repair and other paving projects.  Click here for local coverage.

In the village of Leipsic in Putnam County, local officials are eagerly looking forward to 2008 to use their newly-obtained grant funds. The effort will effect some 22 businesses, and will involve sewer repair, street lighting, sidewalks and curbs.  Click here for local coverage.

Defiance will receive a $400,000 grant that is designed to leverage ten times that amount in total public and private investment. 25 of 51 property owners eligible have signed up for grant-funded projects, and code work will also be completed.  Click here for local coverage.

Lastly, the City of Bryan in Williams County received funding to assist 39 property owners, and the City will complete both infrastructure and decorative streetscape projects.

Photo: Courthouse Square, Downtown Bryan - Google Earth