The Ohio Department of Transportation, or ODOT, released a round of funding Aug. 14 to support infrastructure development in smaller communities across Ohio. The $12.7 million in grant funding benefitted eight different counties across Ohio, including counties in the northwest, west central, east and north regions, but excluding counties from the southeast and southwest regions.
The money comes from ODOT’s Small City Program, which is focused on providing funding to cities with populations that range from 5,000 to 24,999 and are not a part of a Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Since 2022, ODOT has provided money to 33 different projects across the state. Counties in Southeast Ohio only account for three of these.
In 2022, Scioto County received funding for Coles Boulevard in Portsmouth. In 2024, Guernsey County received funding for Edgeworth Avenue, 8th Street Road and Wills Creek Valley Drive in Cambridge, and Athens County for state Route 682, according to ODOT.
However, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has been outspoken about his intentions to support the Appalachian region and forge opportunities for growth.
In DeWine’s 2022 State of the State Address, he reinforced the commitments.
“To the members of the General Assembly, I will work with you,” DeWine said. “I intend to work with you and local leaders in Appalachia to create an investment program to revitalize and rebuild the economies and the main streets of the area where Ohio began.”
Local Southeastern Ohioans have raised concerns regarding the fulfillment of such promises. Many in the region feel that their communities are not receiving enough funding to meet the needs of their area.
Resident of Morgan County, Marjie Shew, owns a 20-acre farm that sells mostly beef. She claimed the alignment on her truck, which is not yet a year old, is not locked properly and is experiencing issues due to the poor roads in her area.
Shew also said during the winter, residents wait for the snow to melt, stating that even though the snowplows come through, no salt is used, so the snow doesn't properly melt.
Shew also mentioned McConnelsville, a city in Morgan County, recently received state funding for and began construction on a roundabout downtown, which will increase traffic.
In addition to roadway infrastructure, many in the Appalachian region cite poor internet availability.
Shew stated her family used to pay for internet, but has not had any service with specific providers since March of this year. She expressed that there are current plans to increase Spectrum lines in the county.
Laura Berry is a resident of Athens County and owns a farm eight miles outside of Athens City. Berry stated her WiFi connection goes in and out constantly.
Berry also commented on why she thinks Southeast Ohio is not being funded to the same degree as other regions in Ohio.
“It's a low population down here. It's a poor area. It's overlooked for whatever reasons,” Berry said. “I don't know what's in their heads, but it's a common trend.”
Berry has lived in Athens for 30 years, stating the infrastructure has improved, but through a very gradual process. She says the reason for this is that money does not typically flow towards the Southeast region.
Some residents feel the lack of funding stems from a failure by local elected officials to represent their needs.
Mark Roll, a resident of Athens County who owns a farm in Ross County, said he doesn't feel represented in the state government. Roll mentioned former state representative Jay Edwards, claiming that a majority of Edwards' represented community was in Athens, even though he was from Nelsonville.
“It definitely reinforces the corruption of our state government in Columbus at the State House,” Roll said.
Many in the Southeast Ohio region feel that DeWine has not followed through on his promises to support and invest in the region, including Berry, who commented on DeWine’s performance and his visit to the newly opened Athens High School.
“It's kind of insulting he came down for the groundbreaking of a new school here,” Berry said. “I think he's a turncoat. He's a worm. I don't think he's done much at all for the state of Ohio.”
Assistant City Engineer for Athens, Gillian Garland commented on past and ongoing projects in the city that have received ODOT funding.
“Although the City was not awarded funding this round, we have been awarded funding for several other projects,” Garland said in an email. “The SR 682/56 Roundabout, Stimson Ave Bridge, Columbus Rd Shared Use Path, City wide curb ramps project, E State Signals project and recently completed W Union project all had ODOT funding awards.”
