County secures $1.5 million in federal funding for expansion of new garage complex | News, Sports, Jobs

On By Karl

LISBON — Columbiana County Engineer Bert Dawson got some great news this week, announcing Thursday $1.5 million in federal funding for the new county garage complex expansion project.

“We’ve been waiting for this for a while” Dawson said during a brief discussion about the financing.

On Wednesday, Dawson received notification from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development that the funding was obligated to the county.

“I want to thank the USDA-RD staff, especially John Miller and Michael Antonville, for their persistent work and dedication throughout this long and arduous process.” Dawson said in a written press release.

Miller is originally from Wellsville, Dawson said.

“The county commissioners are to be commended for having the foresight to provide $1 million in ARPA funding for the local match, which enabled us to provide an additional $1.5 million in federal funding.” he said.

ARPA stands for American Rescue Plan Act. Between local matching and federal funds, the engineer’s office currently has $2.5 million in funding for the project, which calls for demolishing the old open field structure and replacing it with a new parking garage where plow trucks will be stored. The current building, which has a dirt floor, dates back to the 1930s.

In March, commissioners awarded the design/construction contract for the new storage building to C. Tucker Cope & Associates, Inc., Columbiana, for $1,388,106.

According to the press release, the new structure will be “a 58-foot by 80-foot pre-engineered metal building for vehicle storage with a climate-controlled environment, fire protection sprinkler system, reinforced concrete floors, 15 bays with doors and openers, and insulated metal wall panels.”

Plans call for construction to begin in January, but the old one will need to be demolished.

“This new garage structure will benefit and serve Columbiana County residents for generations to come.” He said this in the press release.