By JOEL E. MAST, Examiner Contributor
Logan County is in the pipeline to receive $11.292 million in federal funding to help recovery efforts addressing damage from the March 14, 2024 tornado that struck the Indian Lake area.
Logan County Administrator David Henry said the money will be funneled through Ohio’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Funding system and could be available mid- to late-summer.
At this point, the Logan County Commissioners and the Logan County Emergency Management Agency will work to finalize a plan to use the money; set a public comment period for the plan; and then submit it for state and federal approval.
“We have had a series of public hearings where citizens submitted ideas to help craft our plan,” Henry said. “It may be that we implement the plan as is or modify it based on what we learn during the public comment period.”
The current plan calls for 40 percent spending on infrastructure to primarily help Russells Point and Lakeview; 30 percent to Logan County Habitat for Humanity to build 30 homes; and 30 percent for multi-family housing development.
County leaders may also leverage some of the money to cover local matching fund requirements for other grants targeting the Indian Lake area and currently in development.
All of the CDBG money would have to be spent within three years, Henry said. He believes the infrastructure and Habitat projects would kick off soon after the money is released to the county.