Carbon receives $172,000 for wastewater improvement project

CARBON — The Clay County community of Carbon recently received a grant for a wastewater system improvement project from the U.S. Department of Housing and Rural Development, State Rep. Jim Baird (R-Greencastle) has announced.

Funds are distributed to rural communities through the Community Development Block Grant Program to assist local governments with projects like improving infrastructure, revitalizing communities and long-term development efforts.

Rep. Baird said Carbon, a community of fewer than 400 located in Van Buren Township of Clay County, has received a $172,000 wastewater system improvement grant to upgrade the town’s main lift station.

“Carbon will be able to proceed with crucial updates to the town’s main lift station thanks to the availability of these federal funds,” Baird said. “These grants are helpful to our rural communities that need to invest in infrastructure improvements.”

More than $10 million in federal grant funding was awarded to 19 rural communities through the program, Baird said. Communities applied for grants across five programs including the Blight Clearance Program, Public Facilities Program, Stormwater Improvement Program, Wastewater Drinking Water Program and Main Street Revitalization Program.

Baird represents House District 44, which includes all of Putnam County and portions of Clay, Morgan, Owen and Parke counties.