Indiana’s Office of the Lieutenant Governor and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced that 19 rural communities will receive more than $14.2 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding for community facilities and water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure projects.
For mason contractors, one award stands out for its direct impact on brick restoration work. The City of Plymouth received $750,000 to restore the structural integrity of its 1875 historic firehouse in the downtown corridor. The planned renovations include masonry work on the exterior brick facade, roof replacement, bell tower and cupola refurbishment, and replacement of exterior entry doors. The goal is to keep the building in service as a public space.
Work on an exterior brick facade in a historic downtown setting puts the basics back in the spotlight. Scope like this centers on keeping the existing wall system performing while addressing deterioration that impacts structural integrity. That means close attention to brick and mortar compatibility, orderly sequencing with the roof work above, and careful coordination around elevated areas like the bell tower and cupola. Access, staging, and public safety planning also become part of the masonry conversation when the project sits in an active corridor.
Another $750,000 award went to the Town of Winamac for water infrastructure updates designed to improve operational efficiency for residents and town staff, part of the same rural investment package administered by OCRA with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Read the full, original article from WKVI Information Center here.