The Williams County commissioners will be seeking up to an additional $244,000 dollars for removal of lead in homes through a new state program. The Maumee Valley Planning Organization, which will be applying for the grant on the county’s behalf, met with the commissioners recently to discuss the new program. Unlike the Community Housing Impact and Preservation Program, also funded by the state, the new Lead Safe Ohio Program deals only with lead aspect. With CHIP, all health and safety issues have to be handled, often increasing the costs beyond what can be covered. The funds need to be committed to projects by next June, though the actual work doesn’t need to be completed until 2026. Officials say…any unused funding would go back to the state. In addition, any money that does go back to the state from other communities may become available for a second round of funding. There is no local match associated with the program.