Governor DeWine Announces 61 New Brownfield Remediation Projects

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)- Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik today announced $58.2 million in state support to help clean up and redevelop 61 hazardous brownfield sites in 33 counties.

The Ohio Department of Development is awarding the funding through the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program, which was created by the DeWine-Husted Administration in 2021. Today's announcement includes approximately $55.9 million for 46 cleanup/remediation projects and nearly $2.4 million for 15 assessment projects.

Since the launch of the program, the Department of Development has awarded more than $560 million to support 550 projects in 86 counties.

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. 

DETAILS: Full List of New Brownfield Remediation Projects

The Ohio General Assembly is funding the 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.  

Examples of new projects receiving awards include:

• Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation
  Old River Road Assemblage
  $1,134,210 Cleanup/Remediation
  The project will include asbestos abatement and interior demolition within the historic Old River Road Assemblage, comprising several significant maritime-era structures. The first phase includes converting the 1235 Old River Road warehouse into 100 market-rate apartments, with plans for retail expansion along the street front. A second phase will redevelop the riverfront buildings for hospitality or residential use, aiming to enhance the Flats East Bank area with additional residential and commercial spaces.

• Erie County Land Reutilization Corporation
  Battery Park Marina
  $10,000,000 Cleanup/Remediation
  The project will include soil excavation, treatment, and disposal, as well as the removal of an underground storage tank and contaminants from a vacant pool. The remediation will support a 768,000-square-foot mixed-use development with residential, retail, and hotel spaces, along with a reimagined marina and public recreation area. The project aligns with Sandusky's Downtown Master Plan and is expected to create 281 jobs.

• Hamilton County Land Reutilization Corporation
  4th & Walnut Center
  $4,941,260 Cleanup/Remediation
  The project will address asbestos removal and demolition within the historic First National Bank building complex, aiming to transform it into a hotel, residential units, and parking facilities. Constructed in 1905, the property requires significant interior updates to support its new mixed-use purpose. Upon completion, the site will support the economic growth of downtown Cincinnati, creating over 700 new jobs in the hospitality and residential sectors.

• Ross County Land Reutilization Corporation
  Transit Parcel
  $1,000,000 Cleanup/Remediation
  Remedial activities at this former CSX property adjacent to Chillicothe's City Transit Station will include soil excavation. The project supports future residential and commercial development, including infrastructure for electric vehicle transportation. The city of Chillicothe plans to develop affordable workforce housing and transit-related facilities on the site.

• Seneca County Land Reutilization Corporation
  Former Vesuvius Property
  $606,000 Cleanup/Remediation
  The project involves soil and sediment remediation at a former refractory manufacturing facility. Planned activities include the removal of contaminated soil and sediment, preparing the site for mixed-use redevelopment by the Village of Bettsville. The project will retain 12 jobs and create 10 new positions in the community.

The Brownfield Remediation Program is part of Governor Mike DeWine's Ohio BUILDS Initiative, which focuses on supporting targeted solutions that impact quality of life, such as water infrastructure improvements, broadband expansion, brownfield redevelopment, and the demolition of blighted buildings.