WEATHERSFIELD — The Mineral Ridge Dam is scheduled to receive a funding boost from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Biden-Harris Administration.

According to a press release from FEMA Region 5, the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District will be awarded $38,181,390 through a Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant to strengthen and improve the dam.

“FEMA funds will be used to make upgrades and modifications to the structure — which holds the source of drinking water for more than 200,000 Northeast Ohio residents — helping to ensure it can withstand the probable maximum flood levels from a 500-year storm,” the press release stated.

MVSD Chief Engineer Michael McNinch said that the project will be open for bids in the near future to determine the total project cost.

“Then the difference from the 70% that FEMA funded from the actual cost will have to be met by MVSD funds, or a funding source,” McNinch said.

FEMA added that it will pay 70% of the $54,544,890 eligible project cost with the remaining 30% of the costs, $16,367,334, provided by capital improvement funds.

McNinch said construction will “ideally” begin in mid-fall.

According to McNinch, construction will be pushed to finish as quickly and efficiently as possible because the building stage of the project will carry over at least three years and they will look to avoid potential impacts of inflation.

“The support that we have received from the community throughout the entire process has been overwhelming,” McNinch said. “Everyone that we have reached out to for a letter of support has immediately provided it. Any research or assistance we needed with facts and figures that were included in the grant application, every community immediately provided. This is a win for our entire region.”

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