Buckeye Reporter

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik announced the launch of a new grant program that will improve energy efficiency and save money in some of Ohio’s most vulnerable communities.

A total of $3.1 million in grant funding is now available as part of the new Brightening Ohio Communities Grant Program. Administered by the Ohio Department of Development, the program will help lower-income communities pay for energy-efficient streetlights, perimeter lighting, and lighting in municipal-owned parking lots.

“This program is not just about new streetlights; it’s about creating a brighter and safer future for all Ohioans,” said Governor DeWine. “Every watt saved translates to real money that our local leaders can use to reinvest in other essential services for our communities. By improving energy efficiency at the street level, we’re making a long-term, sustainable contribution to neighborhoods."

Innovative lighting technologies, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), use much 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.

Of the total funding available, approximately $130,000 will be used to provide local governments with technical assistance on the grant application process. The remaining $3 million in funding will be used toward replacing current lighting with energy-efficient technologies such as LEDs, solar, and motion sensor lighting.   

MORE: Program Information and Application

“This is community-driven problem-solving at its finest,” said Director Mihalik. "We listened to the needs and priorities of our local partners, and we've responded with a program that will reduce energy costs and contribute to safer streets across Ohio."

To ensure that all of Ohio’s 88 counties can benefit from the program, each county is eligible to receive a maximum award of $500,000. Any local unit of government in Ohio is eligible to apply for funding, with priority given to projects located within Ohio’s Disadvantaged Communities (DACs). The deadline to apply is Fri., Dec. 15. 

Funding for the Brightening Ohio Communities program is from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program. Ohio was one of eight states awarded funding on Oct. 12 as part of the EECBG's first round. 

For more information on the new Brightening Ohio Communities Grant Program, and to apply, visit development.ohio.gov/boc.

Original source can be found here.