Somerset Applies for State Grant to Revitalize Downtown

SOMERSET, Ohio – The village of Somerset has one of the most historic downtowns in the state, and now they are writing to Ohio for a $300,000 grant to revitalize their downtown.

Somerset’s courthouse opened in 1829 and is one of two first-generation courthouses still standing in Ohio. The statue of General Sheridan was dedicated in the middle of downtown in 1905. And most of the downtown buildings were constructed before the turn of the last century. Tom Johnson, who is serving his seventh year as the village’s mayor says this grant is much needed.

“We’ve gotten so far about $700,000 in project estimates from building owners that want to participate so we have more requests than $300,000 so we are looking to prioritize roofs,” said Mayor Johnson. “We have a lot of slate roofs in our historic district.”

Somerset applied for the Downtown Revitalization Grant from the Development Services Agency in 2012 but was denied. Since then, Mayor Johnson said that Somerset has worked hard to improve sidewalks and to install antique streetlights.

The grant is only given to a handful of villages each year and Mayor Johnson said that it’s very competitive. To be considered a village you must have a population of less than 5,000. As of 2010 Somerset’s population was 1,481.

“It’s going to help to really improve some of the older buildings that need work and I think it’ll be a great face life for the town. It’s a great little town and hope people come to visit,” said Mayor Johnson.

The Village has until June 17 to apply and will hear if they are selected in early September.