COLUMBUS, Ohio – Approximately $50 million in grant funding is now available to help communities across the state clean up contaminated properties and prepare them for redevelopment.
The funding will be awarded as part of the Brownfield Remediation Program, which was launched in 2021. The program helps communities clean up industrial, commercial and institutional brownfield sites that are abandoned, idled or underused due to a known or potential release of hazardous substances or petroleum.
“Cleaning up and revitalizing these properties opens the door for new businesses, safer housing and better job opportunities,” Gov. Mike DeWine said. “From the first dollar we awarded through this program to now, we’ve given our communities the resources they need to build a stronger future.”
Since the program’s inception, the Ohio Department of Development has awarded $657.5 million to support 630 projects in 86 counties.
“Many communities have brownfield sites that are too costly to clean up on their own,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “We are helping bridge that gap, empowering our local partners to transform these sites into fresh spaces for new businesses, housing and economic growth.
Projects that assess or remediate brownfield properties are eligible for funding. Each county has designated a lead entity that may apply for funding on behalf of the county.
Applications are open until 4 p.m. March 21. However, due to the limited funding availability, the application portal will close when grant requests reach $125 million. Applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received. Not all applications will receive funding. The maximum grant award per application is $2.5 million.