NIAGARA, Wis. — The City of Niagara will seek a Community Development Block Grant to help pay for a sewer and water main project involving three streets.

Cedar Corporation of Green Bay, Wis., is working with the city to help secure the funding to replace 1.25 miles of aging water main and sewer lines on Mill, Hill and Forest streets. The utility lines were installed between 1916 and 1940 and are past their useful life, according to Lynn McIntyre of Cedar Corporation. They also have numerous cracks, water mineral buildup and other damage.

McIntyre said the city qualifies for the program because it is a capital improvement project and because it addresses public facilities through utility improvement. The areas affected are also considered low or moderate income, another requirement for the program.

The city can apply for the grant in May, with notification about the funding coming in July or August. The federal funds are administered through the state.

The city had a recent public hearing on the sewer and water main project, required as part of the application process.

Kyle Johnson, also of Cedar Corp., explained that once they find out if they will receive the grant, they will start design work and look for other funding sources.

“We have other options (for funding), but this is first,” said Audrey Fredrick, city administrator/clerk/treasurer.

Fredrick also stressed that this is why it’s important to fill out income surveys sent out by the city, because it helps them receive funding.

City residents will see more information on the plans in the fall, with final design to be completed by December. They would seek bids to start utility replacement in 2027.

Cedar Corp. has worked on the city’s utilities lines for many years.

The city is trying to finish the utility work before a resurfacing project is completed on Hill and Forest streets. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has already made plans to replace storm sewers, curbs, sidewalks and resurface Hill and Forest streets in 2029.

The city applied for funding for the resurfacing project through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Surface Transportation Program and received the maximum amount of 80% of the projected cost for a total grant of $3,610,816, plus some for engineering costs for Hill and Forest street. WisDOT will be designing and bidding out that project.

The Community Development Block Grant Program supports activities such as infrastructure, economic development projects, public facilities installation, community centers, housing rehabilitation, public services, clearance/acquisition, micro enterprise assistance, code enforcement, homeowner assistance and more, according to the program website.

States each receive $10 million from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. In Wisconsin, those funds are controlled by the Department of Administration.

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Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.