LISBON — Street improvement projects in Salem, Wellsville and Columbiana received approval Wednesday for Columbiana County’s 2026 Community Development Block Grant application, with work to be done next year if awarded.

County commissioners approved the list of projects presented Wednesday by Tad Herold, consortium director of county Economic Development, and by county Port Authority Executive Director Brittany Smith.

The commissioners recently approved an agreement for the Port Authority to administer the county CDBG program, which the Port Board of Directors approved Monday.

Herold said Salem will receive $110,000, Wellsville will receive $150,500 and Columbiana will receive $120,300, all from CDBG. He explained these were the submissions that qualified under the CDBG guidelines, while two other submissions did not.

Smith said the Port Authority will look for other funding options for the other two projects.

According to Herold, the CDBG application will be submitted and should be approved with no problem.

Columbiana is seeking $120,300 and contributing an additional $74,005 in matching funds to improve South Middle Street from the railroad tracks to Lisbon Street and to improve a gap in the sidewalks on the east end of South Middle Street to Friend Street.

Wellsville is seeking $150,500 and contributing an additional $42,024 in matching funds to improve Commerce Street from 15th Street to 18th Street and also along 15th Street from Commerce to Clark.

Salem is seeking $110,000 and contributing an additional $270,496 in matching funds to improve Hawley Avenue from East Third Street to East Sixth Street.

Smith said the grants will be awarded through CDBG and the projects should be able to go out to bid sometime next year. The projects will be completed in 2027.

When asked about the two projects that failed to qualify, she identified the communities as Washingtonville and East Palestine. She said they did not meet the low to moderate income level to qualify, meaning the incomes were not low enough. Funding alternatives are being explored.

In other business, Commissioner Mike Halleck commended Beaver Local bus driver Amber May for helping Beaver Local teacher Penny Brown while she was being viciously attacked by two dogs while out for a walk at Lake Tomahawk.

At 4:13 p.m. Friday, the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the East Palestine Police Department advising that a Beaver Local school bus driver reported a woman was attacked by dogs while walking in the area of Tomahawk Drive.

The school bus was able to stop and pick her up, taking her to another address while contacting an EMS crew. The sheriff’s office responded and the dog warden’s office was called and was responding, with the two dogs described as male boxer mixes.

The sheriff’s office report described extensive injuries to Brown, who was flown by helicopter to St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Youngstown for treatment.

Halleck called May a hero.

“I think Amber May should be acknowledged for saving this lady’s life,” he said.

The commissioners also approved the alternative method of apportionment of Local Government Fund money for 2027. The next commissioners’ meeting is 9 a.m. May 27 at the downtown courthouse.