Ashtabula Unveils Refreshed Downtown With 22 New Building Facades

Downtown Ashtabula has a new look. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik visited the city on Monday, Oct. 19, to celebrate the completion of its downtown revitalization project. A $1.9 million grant from the Wonderful Waterfronts Initiative supported the work. That initiative is part of Ohio’s Appalachian Community Grant Program. What Changed in Downtown Ashtabula The project brought several visible upgrades to the heart of the city. Downtown Ashtabula now has new sidewalks and streetlights. Visitors will also find updated wayfinding signage to help them get around. Perhaps the most noticeable change is the 22 building facades that received a fresh look. “When we launched this grant program, we wanted to make investments that would benefit Ohio’s Appalachian communities for decades, and that’s exactly what this project will do for Ashtabula,” said Governor DeWine. “This revitalization has truly created a more inviting and engaging downtown environment, which will have a direct impact on the local economy.” About the Wonderful Waterfronts Initiative DeWine announced the initiative in 2024. It awarded $204 million to help communities expand access to local waterways and revitalize historic waterfront downtowns. Creating new tourism and recreational opportunities is another goal of the program. Wonderful Waterfronts is one of three programs funded through the $500 million Appalachian Community Grant Program. The state created that program in partnership with the Ohio General Assembly. Part of a Statewide Tour The Ashtabula visit was part of a multi-day tour celebrating completed projects. On the same day, the governor traveled to Sardis in Monroe County for the grand opening of the new Appalachian Ecotone Riverfront Amphitheater. A $4.4 million Wonderful Waterfronts grant allowed Monroe County to purchase the former Fairways Riverside Golf Course. The site now features an amphitheater and walking trails. Funding also helped convert the old golf clubhouse into a visitor’s center. While in Sardis, DeWine also joined a groundbreaking for Monroe County’s new Inland Waterways Maritime Academy. An Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is supporting the design and construction of the academy’s future Deckhand Training Center.