Lawrence County Port

Lawrence County Port, a U.S. local government port authority based in Ironton, Ohio, operates as a federal grant recipient focused on public transit operations and homelessness-prevention programs serving Lawrence County. The entity does not hold federal contracts as a prime or subcontractor; instead, it receives direct grant awards from the Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development (CPD).

The entity's grant footprint splits evenly between two federal programs. The Federal Transit Administration provides operating assistance and capital preventive maintenance funding under the Federal Transit Formula Grants program (CFDA 20.507) to sustain Lawrence County Transit's shared-ride public transportation services, including service to seniors, persons with disabilities, and low-income populations. A September 2025 FTA award of $750,850 obligates funds through December 31, 2026, covering driver salaries, fuel, and transit asset maintenance. HUD's Continuum of Care (COC) program awards support permanent housing (including permanent supportive housing for persons with disabilities and rapid rehousing), transitional housing, supportive services, and homeless management information systems. Lawrence County Port has received multiple consecutive COC project grants since at least 2022, with awards spanning August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2026, and most recently August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027. The entity also received an Economic Development Initiative Community Project Funding grant from HUD on August 13, 2024 (ultimate completion August 31, 2032) for unspecified economic or community development activities. Additionally, Lawrence County Port subrecipient to an Ohio Department of Natural Resources grant for a gateway sports and recreation complex awarded June 21, 2024.

Across 41 total awards spanning from 1999 to August 2026, the FTA accounts for 24 awards and HUD CPD for 16, with one Department of Interior Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement sub-award, representing 100% customer coverage. Combined dollars obligated total $19.3 million. Recent activity shows modest volume — one award in 2022, two in 2023, three in 2024, two in 2025, and one in 2026 — with three awards reaching ultimate completion inside the next twenty-four months. Lawrence County Port operates as a prime recipient on 98% of awards and holds no federal contract vehicle seats or prime contracting authority.