Lt. Governor Skillman Awards Fulton County more than $2 Million for Dam Reconstruction Project

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Lt. Governor Becky Skillman announced yesterday that Fulton County will receive $2,016,847 for reconstruction of the Mt. Zion Dam, from disaster recovery funds from the federal Community Development Block Grant program. 

"A community's infrastructure is a key part of its economic success or failure," said Lt. Governor Becky Skillman.  "Replacing this dam will move the community past the flooding it experienced in 2008 and make the surrounding area a better place to live, work, and do business."

The grant will fund the removal of the current Mt. Zion Dam and a new structure will be constructed in its place.  The current dam is in poor repair and the hydraulic capacity of the spillway is inadequate.  Because of the current structure's condition, the surrounding area has experienced instances of flooding so severe that emergency vehicles are unable to access the area.  The new dam will eliminate flooding to homes, businesses, and recreational areas.  The bridge over the Mt. Zion Dam will also be replaced, funded by $1.3 million in Federal funds from the Indiana State Department of Transportation.

The CDBG funds were made available to aid in economic recovery after several natural disasters caused damage in many areas across the state during 2008.  Indiana's CDBG Disaster Recovery program is administered by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. OCRA provides technical assistance to community leaders during the 18-month implementation of their storm water improvement projects.