The Ross County part of the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission (OVRDC) met with the Ross County Commissioners Monday.
The OVRDC includes 12 counties, roughly a triangle from Clermont to Fayette to Gallia. It's a local part of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).
John Hemmings, the executive director of the OVRDC based in Waverly, said the original philosophy of the ARC was to promote a grass-roots effort. The job of the ARC is to put federal money into the Appalachian Region, but not tell the recipients how to use it.
Their business meeting included mention of a request to help fund a Bainbridge sewer system. It's the largest village in the state without one, and the EPA has told them they can't allow any more septic systems.
So, Bainbridge asked for a $250,000 grant to help. But the price tag has risen to $13 million dollars...so the OVRDC is asking for a million dollars for them.
You can learn more about the OVRDC in a Zoom meeting February 24th, with details to be announced.