Vinton County Urged to Submit Projects for OVRDC STBG List

Vinton County officials and local governments have a narrow window to put future transportation projects on the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission priority list if they want to be eligible for Surface Transportation Block Grant funding. The solicitation opened on January 22, 2026, and the deadline to submit projects is April 24, 2026.

OVRDC is asking counties, cities, villages, and non-profits to update the regional Unfunded Project List with projects for which an STBG application would be submitted. Projects must appear on that list to be considered for OVRDC STBG funds. The agency has shifted the solicitation from a two-year cycle to an annual update, a change intended to give communities more frequent opportunities to advance projects before applications open. The updated list will not become official until it is adopted by the OVRDC Executive Committee at its May 2026 meeting.

The timing and procedural mechanics matter for Vinton County because inclusion on the Unfunded Project List is a prerequisite to seeking federal-sourced STBG dollars through OVRDC. Local townships, village councils, county commissioners, and non-profit service providers that depend on these grants for road maintenance, safety improvements, or other transportation investments need to move projects onto the list now to preserve their funding pathways. An annual solicitation shortens the planning horizon and requires elected officials and administrators to coordinate earlier in the year.

Community groups and government staff may submit projects through OVRDC’s online form or by contacting Transportation Planning Specialist Jacob Taylor directly at jtaylor@ovrdc.org or 740-947-2853. The current priority project list is available online; any additions submitted during this solicitation will be considered for the updated list that the Executive Committee must adopt in May.

For local decision makers, the change from a biennial to an annual process has practical consequences. Project sponsors should confirm that project descriptions, cost estimates, and any necessary local resolutions or letters of support are ready well before the April 24 deadline. Projects not on the updated list will be ineligible for OVRDC STBG application submittal when the application window opens.

Vinton County residents will ultimately see the impact in which local streets, bridges, and transportation services move closer to construction or improvement based on these funding decisions. Officials and community organizations should treat the April 24 deadline as an operational milestone and use the contact information provided to ensure project proposals are submitted and positioned for the May Executive Committee adoption.