Waverly receives grant for street lights along US 23

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik announced $3.1 million in grants to support sustainable, long-term cost and energy savings.

“We (the village) were awarded the Brighten Ohio Communities grant for street lights,” Waverky Economic Development Administrator Shelly Anderson said.

Council had already made the decisions to change the bulbs while they waited for word on the grant.

“The day the bulbs were delivered was the day we found out about the money,” Anderson said. “We did not replace the bulbs; we just sent those bulbs back. The money is available right now.”

Anderson said that all 46 street lights along US 23 would receive new bulbs. The amount of the grant was $32,626.25.

“I talked to (Street Light Technician) Jeff Perry,” Anderson said. “He is supposed to get the quote and get that done ASAP.”

The project will yield an annual utility savings of 65 percent.

Anderson also said that the village is having AEP (American Electric Power) check the lights in the village limits on state Route 104 and state Route 335 to determine who owns the lights.

The grants are funded through the Brightening Ohio Communities Grant Program, which was announced by Governor DeWine in November. Administered by the Department of Development, the program helps pay for energy-efficient streetlights, perimeter lighting, and lighting in municipal-owned parking lots in communities that are in need of extra funding support.

“The grants we’re announcing will empower these communities to make more impactful, long-term investments in their neighborhoods,” said Governor DeWine. “By doing something as simple as replacing old streetlights, we’re helping free up resources that can be redirected to vital community services like education and public safety.”

Innovative lighting technologies, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), use less energy, produce less heat, and have a longer lifespan than incandescent lighting, leading to a more cost-effective solution for communities looking to save money on their energy bills.

In total, $3,130,030 will be awarded to 10 communities across 11 counties to replace old and inefficient lighting with energy-efficient technologies such as LEDs, solar, and motion sensor lighting.

“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to community development, and that is why collaboration with our local partners is so crucial to the success of projects like these,” said Director Mihalik. “The voices of our communities told us what they needed, we listened, and now they’re all one step closer to a brighter future.”

All projects selected for funding must show an annual reduction of at least 15 percent in energy usage, ensuring a tangible and measurable impact on their communities.