GOPC Analyzes $659M in Recent Brownfield Grants

GOPC Releases White Paper Analyzing the $659M Granted through the Brownfield Remediation Program Over the Past Three Years

COLUMBUS, Ohio (December 10, 2024)

Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) has released The Benefits of Brownfields for Ohio's Communities: An Analysis of the Brownfield Remediation Program Over the Past Three Years. This white paper assesses the $659 million awarded between 2022 and 2024 for the Brownfield Remediation Program. The white paper also makes the case for allocating additional dollars to a statewide brownfield grant program in the next state Operating Budget.

Read the Full White Paper

Passed in the FY22-23 Main Operating Budget, and re-allocated in the FY24-25 Main Operating Budget, the Brownfield Remediation Program (BRP) has invested $659 million in environmental cleanup through grants awarded between 2022 and 2024. Projects are underway to assess, cleanup, and revitalize brownfields in 86 of Ohio's 88 counties.

Alison Goebel, Executive Director, said, "We commend the Ohio Legislature for the continued investment in a state brownfield grant program over the past two main operating budgets, and look forward to the economic impact these projects will have for Ohio's communities."

To date, the Brownfield Remediation Fund has granted $659 million to 631 projects. Eighty-six of Ohio's 88 counties were awarded grant dollars for 380 clean-up projects and 251 assessments. According to the Ohio Department of Development, in early 2025, roughly $50M will become available for competitive applications. This application window will be the final dollars of the $700M made available over of the past two budget allocations.

Aaron Clapper, Director of Outreach and Projects, and author of the white paper said, "The anticipated end uses for the remediated sites are impressive. We are excited about the mixed-use, affordable housing, transit, and new industrial sites that communities are planning for these cleaned sites."

The white paper also makes the case for more funding and recommends one adjustment to the current program to help communities, especially smaller and more rural communities, successfully compete for funds. As state policymakers consider investments in Ohio's communities through the Main Operating Budget, a further investment in a state brownfield grant program can continue to provide local changemakers with grant dollars to clean-up the more than 250 assessed sites awarded grants in the past three years, and apply for additional funds to continue brownfields revitalization in their communities.

The full report can be accessed on GOPC's website.

About Greater Ohio Policy Center

Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization with a mission to improve Ohio's communities through smart growth strategies and research. Our vision is a revitalized Ohio. We undertake original research and analysis, develop pragmatic policy recommendations and advocacy strategies, and deploy our convening power to meet the needs of Ohio's local change-makers. We operate statewide.

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