$7M Sought for 11 Brownfield Projects in Mahoning County

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Mahoning County Land Bank and Western Reserve Port Authority are teaming up with several other local partners to request $7 million in state funding for 11 brownfield cleanup projects across Mahoning County, including nine in Youngstown.

Grant applications submitted last week seek funds for remediation or demolition work at five locations, including the long-vacant South High School Field House, and for environmental assessments at six other sites.

“The overarching aim of these initiatives is to comprehensively clean up, environmentally assess and prepare multiple sites across the county for redevelopment,” said Debora Flora, executive director of the land bank. “We’re very confident about funding for work at the field house because there is a strong likelihood of local matching funds. We’re also very excited about the strong and growing coalition in support of these projects as a group.”

Valley Christian Schools has proposed a new sports complex at the field house site and has been raising money from private sources. The state brownfield funding would reimburse the city of Youngstown for its assistance.

Approximately $1 million in brownfield funds has been set aside for each of Ohio’s 88 counties that can demonstrate a qualifying need. Another $82 million is subject to statewide competition, as the total volume of requests is expected to far exceed that figure.

“Our local applications underscore the critical demand for brownfield remediation and demolition funding, a key factor in driving development in the Mahoning Valley and across Ohio,” said Anthony Trevena, executive director of the WRPA. “We look forward to working with our area’s elected officials and state legislators to advocate for the Valley’s interests to advance these 11 projects.”

The cities of Youngstown, Campbell and Sebring, as well as the Youngstown City School District and the Economic Action Group, teamed up with the land bank and WRPA to develop, document and finalize the grant applications.

Funds are being sought for remediation and demolition at these five sites:

• South High School Field House, 1840 Erie St., Youngstown.
• Youngstown Flea building, 365 E. Federal St., Youngstown.
• Former auto parts store, 1034 Wick Ave., Youngstown.
• Silver’s Vogue Shop building, 27 W. Federal St., Youngstown.
• Site of former McGuffey Mall, McGuffey Road at Garland Avenue, Youngstown.

Funds are being sought for environmental assessments at these six sites:

• JSI Properties Inc. (former manufacturing building), 221 W. Georgia Ave., Sebring.
• City Trust and Savings site, 3370 Wilson Ave., Campbell.
• Hayes Elementary School site, 1616 Ford Ave., Youngstown.
• Adams Junior High School site, 2537 Cooper St., Youngstown.
• Princeton School site, 2546 Hillman St., Youngstown.
• West Elementary School site, North Hazelwood Avenue, Youngstown.

The brownfield cleanup requests are separate from a recent multicounty application for $155 million through the state’s Appalachian Community Grant Program.

Pictured at top: The vacant South High School Field House in Youngstown.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.