State awards city improvement grants

NILES -- The cities of Niles and Girard have each received $300,000 grants that can be used for street, sidewalk and water and sewer line improvements.
The grants were awarded Thursday through the Ohio Department of Development's program for small cities. Ten Ohio communities received the grants totaling $3 million. The funds are designed to help revitalize and improve living areas in distressed communities and planning. Statewide, the grants will improve 28,000 feet of streets, 41,000 feet of curbs and sidewalks and 7,000 feet of water and sewer lines, according to the state's development department.