Brownfield Remediation Grants Awarded to Area Counties

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(Columbus) – Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik has announced $106.9 million in state support to help clean up and redevelop 61 hazardous brownfield sites in 22 counties.

The  Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program, which was created by the DeWine-Husted Administration in 2021. The announcement includes approximately $102.4 million for 35 cleanup/remediation projects and roughly $4.5 million for 26 assessment projects. “There is no easy way to clean up the contamination at these sites; they all need expert remediation that’s too costly for communities to take on alone,” said Governor DeWine. “Through this program, we’re helping local communities reclaim hazardous properties so that they can be reimagined and redeveloped.”

Here are the area projects awarded grants:

Pike County Land Reutilization Corporation (Pike County)
Project Name: Beaver School Remediation and Demolition
$621,550
Cleanup/Remediation
This project involves the remediation and demolition of the former Beaver School, a 34,350-square foot building constructed in the 1930s, now dilapidated and posing health and safety risks to the
Beaver community. The building contains asbestos-containing materials that need to be abated before
demolition. The planned activities include ACM abatement, building demolition, and site restoration
with grass seeding. The project aims to remove the blighted structure, improving community safety
and aesthetics. The site will be prepared for future use, although specific redevelopment plans are not
outlined. The project will enhance the community environment, addressing public health concerns.

Vinton County Commissioners (Vinton County)
Project Name: Carter’s
$48,800
Assessment
This project involves conducting environmental assessments at a property previously used as a
grocery store and filling station, now renovated into a single-family dwelling. The property raises
concerns of potential environmental contamination due to its former use as a filling station. The
project will involve assessing the property to identify any environmental hazards that may require
remediation. The Vinton County Commissioners have secured access to the property for these
activities. The assessments will provide critical information for future remediation, if needed, to
ensure the property is safe and environmentally compliant.

Fairfield County Land Reutilization Corporation (Fairfield County)
Project Name: Assessment of the Former Barclay Petroleum Property
$229,076
Assessment
The project focuses on assessing the former Barclay Petroleum site, historically used for oil storage
and pipeline operations. The site, containing old storage tanks and an abandoned oil well, requires
environmental assessments to identify any potential contamination. Planned activities include a
Phase I Property Assessment, asbestos survey, and Phase II investigation with soil, groundwater, and
vapor sampling. The project aims to prepare the site for future redevelopment, with plans for a
baseball and soccer field expansion for the adjacent Howell Park, enhancing community recreation
facilities. The assessment will guide future cleanup and development efforts.

Fairfield County Land Reutilization Corporation (Fairfield County)
Project Name: Shumaker Building Remediation Project
$600,000
Cleanup/Remediation
The project focuses on the former Fairfield Shoe Company building, also known as the Essex Building,
located at 219 North Columbus Street in Lancaster. The property, owned by Historic Fairfield Shoe
Factory LLC, a subsidiary of Urban Restorations, has a history of diverse uses, including residential,
commercial, and industrial. The project includes the installation of a sub-slab depressurization system
to mitigate soil vapor intrusion and the application of chemically resistant epoxy on floors to prevent
vapor migration. The remediation aims to prepare the building for mixed-use development, featuring
commercial space on the first floor and residential apartments on the upper floors. The project is
expected to create 20 new jobs.

Athens County Port Authority (Athens County)
Project Name: Mount Zion Cleanup
$293,148
Cleanup/Remediation
Built between 1905 and 1909, the historic Mount Zion Baptist Church building served as a significant
cultural center for the Black community in Athens, hosting Black entertainers and serving as a
landmark. The property, now owned by the Mount Zion Baptist Church Preservation Society, is
undergoing restoration to become the Mount Zion Black Cultural Center. Environmental inspections in
2017 and 2018 identified asbestos-containing materials, lead-based paint, and mold, which require
abatement to ensure safety and enable further restoration. The new center will offer exhibit space, coworking areas, an event venue, and a commercial kitchen, supporting community engagement and
cultural preservation. Seven new jobs are expected to be created through this project.

“These grants will take hazardous properties and turn them into valuable economic assets for residential and commercial development,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “I am hopeful these sites will serve to provide new businesses, new jobs, and new homes for the next generation of Ohioans.”

The Ohio General Assembly is funding the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program through the current operating budget. Ohio’s 88 counties were each eligible for at least $1 million in funding, with the remaining funds awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.  

Funds awarded today will help assess and clean up industrial, commercial, and institutional brownfield sites that are abandoned, idled, or underutilized due to a known or potential release of hazardous substances or petroleum. Following site remediation, properties can be redeveloped to revitalize neighborhoods and attract new economic development. 

Since the launch of the program, the Ohio Department of Development has awarded more than $450 million to support 374 projects in 83 counties. Additional awards will be announced in the coming months.  

“More than anything, this program is turning challenges into opportunities,” said Director Mihalik. “These funds will empower our community leaders to create safe, vibrant spaces that attract investment and enhance the lives of Ohioans.”