By Lance Gaither

lance.gaither@bluegrassnewsmedia.com

The U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration has awarded the City of Danville a grant of $1.99 million to support Phase 2 of the Lebanon Road/Clark’s Run Sanitary Sewer Improvement Project. The grant is provided by the Fiscal Year 2023 government funding bill. U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and recommended that the Department of Commerce EDA support Danville’s grant application.

“This funding is welcome news for the City of Danville. This investment will help make much-needed improvements to Danville’s water infrastructure and pave the way for future industrial and economic development in the region,” said McConnell in a news release.

Phase 1 of the Lebanon Road/Clark’s Run sewer project was recently completed with a cost of more than $3 million in local funding. The goal of the project is to provide long-term sanitary sewer infrastructure for future and current developments in the southern part of Danville and the industrial park. In addition, the project aims to ensure the city is compliant with future regulations. Phase 2 of the project will replace more than 9,000 feet of sewer lines. The majority of phase two will be in the Clark’s Run flood plain, current infrastructure in the area is susceptible to being overwhelmed with high rates of inflow and infiltration during heavy rains.

“Financial investments in water and sanitary sewer infrastructure such as this will allow the city of Danville to continue its efforts to provide enhanced utility availability to its customers and essential benefits to the environment,” said Danville Municipal Utilities Director Marshall Carrier. “This federal grant award will help to provide critical sanitary sewer improvements needed to support future economic investment toward job growth for our community.”

Phase 2 of the sewer project is expected to begin next spring and is scheduled to be completed by summer of 2025.

“The City of Danville couldn’t be more pleased to see this grant announcement,” said Danville Mayor James Atkins. “We are grateful for the support of Senator McConnell, and the special focus he gives to economic development in this region of Kentucky.”

Centre College has partnered with Danville to study sources of inflow and infiltration into the Clark’s Run watershed to help minimize environmental impact of the project and future developments.