$1M state grant awarded for Columbia Street

The Wisconsin Department of Administration has awarded the city of Oconto Falls $1 million of federal funding through the Community Development Block Grant program toward the reconstruction of Columbia Street in 2025. The grant matches city funding to rebuild the street, replace a lift station and utility infrastructure improvements. Total cost of the project is estimated at $2.78 million. Columbia Street connects Chestnut Avenue (state Highway 22) to Farm Road and County Road I, an important route to Oconto Falls High School, Oconto Falls Elementary School and the new Oconto Falls Middle School scheduled to open in fall 2025. The project will include sidewalks on the south side of the street from Chestnut to Farm, connecting to existing sidewalks.