Perfect: Ripley County To Receive More Than $500,000 In Infrastructure Funding

"As we continue to fight COVID-19, I am optimistic this funding will reduce financial burdens and be a great benefit to the residents of Ripley County."

(Ripley County, Ind.) - Communities in Senate District 43 were recently awarded funds to improve local water infrastructure, said State Sen. Chip Perfect (R-Lawrenceburg). Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) recently announced 24 rural communities across the state will receive more than $15.3 million in federal grant funding.

Ripley County is receiving $550,000 for water and sewer improvements. This project will install a chlorine disinfection system at the wastewater treatment plant, install an updated contact tank and construct a chemical building to house the feed pumps and storage tanks. Additionally, plant electrical improvements will be installed to include lagoon alarms and upgrading the plant’s electrical system to accommodate chlorine disinfection.

"I commend local leaders for their work to secure this grant funding," Perfect said. "As we continue to fight COVID-19, I am optimistic this funding will reduce financial burdens and be a great benefit to the residents of Ripley County."

These grants were provided through the state's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which distributes federal funds to rural communities to assist with community projects. The second round of the 2020 CDBG program begins Aug. 24, with proposals due Sept. 24 and final applications due Nov. 20. For further information on the program, visit www.in.gov/ocra/3010.htm.