Sen Brown Norwalk

NORWALK, OH Today U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined Norwalk Mayor David Light on a walking tour of West Main Street in Norwalk to discuss how federal American Rescue Plan funds will finance replacement of a more than 100-year-old, cast-iron water line on West Main Street, and potential future infrastructure investments in the city from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan.

“The American Rescue Plan is helping local governments recover from the pandemic and fund essential needs, like repairing the West Main Street water line,” said Brown. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan will also be an investment in Ohio communities like Norwalk that will pay off for years to come. It will create jobs, help attract new businesses, and help cities upgrade roads, bridges, and water infrastructure.”

In the past, the city has fixed parts of the water line, but has been unable to finance a full replacement on its own. Now Norwalk will be able to use nearly $800,000 in Rescue Plan funds to replace the line without taking out loans, keeping water rates low for residents.

“Norwalk is very appreciative for the visit from Senator Sherrod Brown. It was nice to see him take the time to visit our city to see first-hand how we are utilizing a large portion of our American Rescue Plan money to replace nearly 5,000 feet of a water line that is 118 years old! Without this money, our community would have had to borrow the funds to complete this project,” said Mayor Light.

In addition to Rescue Plan funding, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is expected to provide Ohio with more than $10 billion in formula funding to upgrade drinking water and sewer systems as well as repair and replace roads and bridges.

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