POMEROY — Meigs County has been awarded $300,000 in grant funds as part of the Neighborhood Revitalization program.

The grant funds will be targeted toward the Village of Rutland.

Grants Administrator Jean Trussell said that Rutland is the fifth village in the county to be the beneficiary of the Community Development Block Grant Neighborhood Revitalization Program.

Pomeroy, Middleport, Syracuse and most recently Racine have received the grant over the past several years.

Targeted communities must have at least 60 percent of the population considered low or moderate income. Trussell said Rutland had 60.5 percent of the population meeting this requirement.

The two-year program is designed to help distressed areas by providing funds for infrastructure and continued improvements in a specific area.

Trussel said in addition to the $300,000 in grant money, the projects to be completed in Rutland will include $167,100 in match money.

Projects funded through the Neighborhood Revitalization program will be fire protection facilities and equipment, street improvements, clearance activities, neighborhood facility and community center improvements, and parks and recreation facilities.

The fire facilities project will total $114,500, with $80,000 coming from the Neighborhood Revitalization program funds. The additional $34,500 will come from a loan through Farmers Bank. Both the current fire station and the old Rutland Elementary building will be rehabbed as part of the project.

Street improvements will be be completed on Civic Center Drive, Larken Road, Brant Road, Nelson Road and Weber Street. The improvements will total $77,800, all paid through grant funds.

Six structures will be demolished as part of clearance activities in the village. The cost to demolish the structures is $47,400, all paid through the grant.

The community center rehabilitation and improvements will include electrical work and work to the gymnasium. The total cost for the improvements is $56,700, all paid through the grant.

Parks and recreation facility improvements will include the construction of a 30 foot by 30 foot basketball court at Jim Venari Park. Funding for the project will be partially covered by grant funds ($3,100), with formula funds and donations from churches and banks helping to cover the remaining cost.

Match funds will cover the cost of the sewer and water improvements to take place. Matching money can include anything from donations to formula money awarded for other projects in the village.

The sewer facility improvements will include the installation of 24 sewer pumps, for a total cost of $31,200. The funds for the project will come from an OWDA loan.

Water facility improvements will be funded through a $100,000 LGIF (Local Government Innovation Fund) grant.

The Neighborhood Revitalization Program is awarded annually throughout the state. Each year, 10 communities throughout Ohio receive the grant.

Prior to the application being submitted surveys of both village wants and income were completed through the grants office.

Community input is a key factor in the grant applications, with points being earned for community involvement.

There are several other factors that will contribute to the final point total, including how closely the chosen projects match the survey of village resident thoughts, matching funds and other projects.

Trussell said that residents of the village were helpful in the completion of the survey process and attending the meetings.

The process of completing the projects is likely to begin in late fall or early winter.