JOHNSON ANNOUNCES ASSISTANCE FOR BROWNFIELD SITES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 23, 2006

Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Bruce Johnson, who also serves as state development director, today announced that more than $900,000 from the Clean Ohio Assistance Fund (COAF) has been awarded to two communities to conduct clean up activities at brownfield sites. The funds were approved by the State Controlling Board today.

The City of Cleveland (Cuyahoga County) will receive $750,000 for remediation and demolition activities at the former St. Luke’s Hospital property located at 11311 Shaker Boulevard. The 5.2-acre project property is owned by a joint venture between University Hospitals Health System and the Sisters of Charity and St. Augustine Health System. The cornerstone of the project is the $40 million restoration of the historically significant Main Hospital Building into a 180-unit residential complex.

The City of Campbell (Mahoning County) will receive $173,518 for a Phase II Environmental Assessment on the former Youngstown Sheet & Tube property located at 20 Walton Avenue. The funds will be used to complete the installation of 15 shallow monitoring wells and two deep monitoring wells, 17 soil borings, 16 surface samples, data evaluation, modeling and report preparation.

Funds from the $10 million COAF must be used for Phase I and II Environmental Assessments, brownfield redevelopment or public health projects. 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.