OHIO — It may be August, but Ohio is taking winter prep seriously.

Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency announced this week that 52 communities will be receiving $2.7 million worth of grants to help upgrade equipment and salt storage facilities. 

What You Need To Know

  • It's the second round of funding for the H2Ohio Chloride Reduction Grant Program

  • The first round of funding went out in May to more than 30 municipalities and communities

  • DeWine said equipment upgrades and updated storage areas can help prevent over application of salt on roads, as well as reduce runoff into waterways

It's the second round of funding for the H2Ohio Chloride Reduction Grant Program.

“Road salt is a necessity during the winter months, but it’s also a necessity that we do all we can to keep our waterways free from chloride contamination,” said DeWine. "Through this grant program, we’re helping local communities with equipment that efficiently spreads salt in a way that better protects our water.”

The first round of funding went out in May to more than 30 municipalities and communities. DeWine said in a release that the demand was so high that the state decided to do a second round to help local governments improve their salt management infrastructure. 

DeWine said equipment upgrades and updated storage areas can help prevent over application of salt on roads, as well as reduce runoff into waterways. 

“We knew that our communities could put this money to good use,” Ohio EPA Director Anne Vogel said in a release. “The initial response was overwhelming, and we appreciate the continued support from Governor DeWine and Ohio’s General Assembly in funding H2Ohio so that we can fund more applications. In less than a year, more than $4 million has helped cities and towns in every corner of Ohio to be protective of our waterways when it comes to salt application on our roadways.”

The following counties will receive the funds: 

  • Ashland
  • Athens
  • Champaign (3 projects)
  • Clermont
  • Clinton
  • Columbiana
  • Cuyahoga (6 projects)
  • Defiance
  • Delaware
  • Erie (2 projects)
  • Fairfield
  • Franklin (4 projects)
  • Hamilton (3 projects)
  • Henry
  • Hocking
  • Jackson
  • Lake
  • Lawrence
  • Lorain (2)
  • Lucas
  • Madison
  • Mahoning
  • Medina
  • Montgomery (2 projects)
  • Muskingum (2 projects)
  • Putnam
  • Sandusky
  • Trumbull
  • Union
  • Warren
  • Washington
  • Wayne
  • Williams (2 projects)
  • Wood (2 projects)

For more details about the grants, click here.