COLUMBIANA COUNTY, Ohio - Columbiana County is among several Ohio counties receiving refinancing from the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA).

Recently OWDA has awarded a total of $77.8 million through the Fresh Water Refinance Loan Program, which provides financial assistance for refinancing the debt for drinking water, wastewater and storm water projects.

Columbiana County refinanced a total of four different projects.

The county refinanced a USDA-RD loan for $1,384,441.96 with an interested rate of 2.10%, which is a reduction of 2.40% from the original interest rate. The loan funds the construction of a 1.2 MGD regional waste water treatment plant serving the village of Lisbon, the Elkton Federal Prison and Elkrun Township.

The county also refinanced a USDA-RD loan for $292,908.12 with an interest rate of 1.72%, which a reduction 2.78% from the original interest rate. The loan funds the construction of a sanitary sewer collection system to eliminate failing onsite treatment systems in the unincorporated area of Winona.

Additionally, the county refinanced another USDA-RD loan for $472,302.41 for the same project with an interest rate of 1.72%, which is a reduction of 2.53% from the original interest rate.

Finally, the county refinanced a USDA-RD loan for $3,249,037.28 with an interest rate of 1.87%, which is a reduction of 2.38% from the original interest rate. The loan funds the construction of a sanitary sewer collection system to eliminate failing onsite treatment systems in the unincorporated area of St. Clair Township.

OWDA has refinanced 42 projects in 2021 so far. These projects received an average interest reduction rate of 3.36%.