FOUR OHIO COMMUNITIES TO RECEIVE MORE THAN $1.5 MILLION FROM CLEAN OHIO ASSISTANCE FUND FOR BROWNFIELD REDVELOPMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2004

Columbus, OH -- State Development Director Bruce Johnson has awarded four Ohio communities more than $1.5 million to clean up environmentally contaminated land for redevelopment. The money is from the Clean Ohio Assistance Fund, dedicated to brownfield redevelopment in eligible areas.

“The Department of Development is committed to providing the funding needed to help with brownfield redevelopment in these communities,” said Johnson. “Brownfield redevelopment allows a community to reclaim and improve its lands, making previously developed property viable for new economic development.”

The four communities receiving funding are:

The City of Celina, located in Mercer County, will receive $296,268 in Clean Ohio Assistance funds to conduct a Phase II Environmental Assessment for the Mersman Redevelopment Project at 500 West Wayne Street. The 9.6-acre property has several structures still on the property, formally a furniture manufacturing facility from the 1990s to the mid 1990s, and a woodworking operation from 1995 to 2000. Part of the building currently houses a small business, storage of boats, a print screen operation and storage of polyethylene. Upon the completion of the Phase II Environmental Assessment the village will determine if additional, appropriate clean up and remediation activities are necessary. The City’s development partner, Brickyard Investments, LLC, plans to develop this property into a small business incubator. This will attract and help area entrepreneurs create new jobs in Celina and Mercer County.

The City of Martins Ferry, located in Belmont County, will receive $205,430 in Clean Ohio Assistance funds to conduct a Phase II Environmental Assessment at MEG Properties. The 6.6-acre project has no buildings, but does have railroads running through the project. The property was once home to an iron and coke production facility from the 1880s to the 1960s, and since then has been vacant. The property has most recently been used for disposal of concrete, asphalt, soil and street sweepings and the temporary storage of roadway construction equipment. Upon the completion of the Phase II Environmental Assessment the village will determine if additional, appropriate clean up and remediation activities are necessary. The City plans to make the property available for commercial and retail redevelopment, including a marina after these efforts. It is hoped that this redevelopment will spearhead revitalization of this area along the Ohio River.

The City of Cleveland, located in Cuyahoga County, will receive $900,000 in Clean Ohio Assistance funds to conduct a cleanup and remediation for the property at the intersection of Coltman Road & East 119th. The 1.2-acre property, owned by Coltman Road, LLC, consists of five parcels and still has several structures on the property. Prior to 1931, residential dwellings, storage sheds, a carpenter shop and paint shop occupied the property. From 1931 to 1996, the property was occupied by several oil businesses. From about 1949 to 1973, the property contained a filling station. Currently, there are 21 underground storage tanks out of service on the property. Upon completion of the clean up and remediation, the developer plans to build an apartment complex, within walking distance of Case Western Reserve University.

The Village of Coal Grove, located in Lawrence County, will receive $167,880 in Clean Ohio Assistance funds to conduct a Phase II Environmental Assessment at the former Carlyle Title Property located at 922 Pike Street. The property was once used to operate a blast furnace to produce pig iron, a brick and quarry tile manufacturing facility, an asphalt plant, a coal loading facility and a rod-pitch storage plant. Upon Phase II Environmental Assessment the village will determine if additional, appropriate clean up and remediation activities are necessary. The Village will make this property available for industrial and commercial development. Because of the property’s access to the road, rail and river, strong consideration is being given to development it as an industrial park.

Money from the $10 million Clean Ohio Assistance Fund must be used for Phase I and II Environmental Assessments, brownfield redevelopment or public health projects. Separate applications are submitted for each activity. The purpose of a Phase I Environmental Assessment is to determine if hazardous substances or petroleum have or currently are on the property and to determine the need for further assessment. The purpose of a Phase II Environmental Assessment is to evaluate recognized environmental conditions identified in the Phase I Environmental Assessment, for the purpose of providing sufficient information regarding the nature and extent of contamination to assist in making informed business decisions about the property.

Projects located in situational distressed, inner distressed, distressed or labor surplus cities are eligible for funding. Projects are evaluated based on economic benefit; environmental improvement, including public health benefit; appropriateness and reasonableness of the proposed project and the financial condition of the community.