Crawfordsville awarded $750k grant for wastewater improvements

The City of Crawfordsville announced in a press release that they were awarded a $750,000 grant to replace its ageing digester lids used in wastewater treatment. The award, called a Community Development Block Grant, is given through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA).

Digester lids are used to support the anaerobic digestion process that breaks down waste into nutrient-rich digestate, converting it into environmentally-friendly fertilizer and other agriculture byproducts. The lids have been in use for over 30 years, creating odor problems on the city’s west side.

“This funding is a great investment in Crawfordsville’s infrastructure and quality of life,” said Mike McKinney, the City of Crawfordsville’s assistant wastewater superintendent. “Replacing these digester lids will help us improve the efficiency of our treatment process while also addressing odor concerns that have affected nearby neighborhoods. We are extremely grateful to OCRA for recognizing the importance of this project and providing the funding to make it possible”.

McKinney also thanked Michael Kleinpeter, the president and grant administrator of Kleinpeter Consulting Group LLC, for his contributions to the grant-writing process.

To learn more about the City of Crawfordsville, click or tap here.

Both photos have been taken and provided by the City of Crawfordsville.