WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Dave Taylor, R-Ohio, announced he has secured nearly $17 million in federal funding for 13 community-driven projects across Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District through the Fiscal Year 2026 Community Project Funding process.
The investments, approved during Congress’s annual appropriations process, direct taxpayer dollars back to local communities in southern Ohio to support infrastructure, emergency response, healthcare and quality-of-life improvements.
Taylor, who represents the district including areas such as Clermont, Brown, Adams, Clinton, Vinton, Jackson, Lawrence, Scioto, Pickaway and portions of other southern counties, said the projects stemmed from extensive consultations with local leaders, elected officials, first responders and stakeholders.
“When I took the oath of office, I promised to advocate for the needs of Ohioans who have had to make do with far too little for far too long,” Taylor said in a statement. Each of these 13 local projects is a result of year-long conversations I’ve had with local leaders, law enforcement, first responders, and service organizations about where the greatest impact of federal dollars could be made. I look forward to seeing how these projects will improve the quality of life for Ohioans, and I will continue working with local partners to deliver meaningful results to our communities.”
- Adena Health – EMS Transport Expansion, $750,000: The funding will expand Adena Health’s internal EMS capacity by adding two fully equipped ambulances at Adena Regional Medical Center in Chillicothe (Ross County). The vehicles will support inter-facility transfers, discharges and urgent non-emergency transport with medical equipment, communication tools and safety features.
- Brown County Rural Water Association – Wahlsburg Tank Project, $2,000,000: Funds will construct a 2-million-gallon water tower to provide safe, potable water to more than 30,000 Brown County residents daily.
- City of Wellston – Water Treatment Plant Project, Phase 2, $2,000,000: This allocation supports Phase 2 upgrades to the city’s water treatment plant in Wellston (Jackson County). (Note: A separate entry for the Wellston Police Department appears to have been misattributed in initial details; the radio upgrade is listed distinctly below.)
- City of Wellston Police Department – MARCS Radio Upgrades Project, $200,000: The Wellston Police Department will upgrade outdated radios to MARCS-compatible digital systems, providing portable radios for all officers and mobile radios for patrol vehicles. The upgrade ensures communication with neighboring law enforcement, EMS and fire departments, bridging a budget gap for officer safety and effectiveness in Wellston (Jackson County).
- Clermont County Coroner’s Office – Forensics Lab, $400,800: Funding will establish new forensic units in the Clermont County Coroner’s Office, enabling rapid crime scene response, mobile device data extraction, surveillance footage analysis and integration of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network. It will also cover salaries for three criminalists, supporting 15 local law enforcement agencies, the countywide Narcotics Unit, Fire Investigative Unit, Probation Department and Prosecutor’s staff in Clermont County.
- Clinton County Board of Commissioners – Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, $949,566: The commissioners will advance planning for a new wastewater treatment plant to enable residential, commercial and industrial development in Clinton County and the region. This includes identifying service areas, sewer main alignments, treatment processes, cost estimates and preliminary designs.
- Holzer Health System – Pathology Lab Modernization, $999,000: Funds will combine hospital laboratory services with Anatomic Pathology and Microbiology by installing a new air handler unit, allowing relocation of those services to Holzer Health’s main campus (primarily in Gallia and Jackson counties).
- The City of Logan – Water Treatment Plant Updates and Water Tower Project, $1,250,000: The city of Logan (Hocking County) will add a third reverse osmosis membrane skid and replace a 250,000-gallon water tower with a 500,000-gallon tower. The project serves about 7,200 year-round residents (increasing to 10,000 during tourism season), enhancing drinking water quality, addressing growth and supporting economic prosperity.
- Village of McArthur – Waterline Replacement, Phase 1, $1,000,000: The village will replace approximately 10,200 linear feet of aging 6-inch waterlines, 6,700 linear feet of service lines, 26 gate valves and 26 fire hydrants in McArthur (Vinton County), improving water quality, service reliability, fire protection and long-term savings.
- Village of Williamsburg – Sewer Extension, $1,000,000: Funding will extend the sewer system in the Village of Williamsburg (Clermont County) by 2,500 feet to serve 143 acres of annexed developable land on the western border.
- Village of Winchester – Water Treatment Plant Improvements, $1,250,000: The village will expand and modernize its regional water treatment plant serving northern Adams County, addressing Ohio EPA orders on failing septic tanks in the Cherry Fork area, supporting a new 55-acre industrial park and enabling community growth, economic vitality and regulatory compliance.
- Pickaway County Port Authority – State Route (SR) 762/Rickenbacker Parkway Roundabout, $4,000,000: The largest allocation will fund a new roundabout and turn-lane improvements at the SR 762 and Rickenbacker Parkway intersection in Pickaway County to reduce congestion from economic development. The project includes road grading, resurfacing, concrete work, traffic control, safety enhancements like lighting and signage, and traffic management during construction.
- City of Ironton – Ohio Riverfront Improvements, $1,000,000: The City of Ironton (Lawrence County) will construct an access road to the riverfront with water, sanitary sewer, streetscaping and business development access, boosting economic growth, tourism and recreation.
The total funding amounts to nearly $17 million, with projects distributed across multiple counties in southern Ohio to address longstanding local needs.