Columbus, OH -- Lt. Governor Lee Fisher today announced that the Ohio Department of Development's (ODOD) Urban Development Division has been awarded $2 million from the United States Environmental Protections Agency (EPA) for brownfield revitalization. Ohio received the largest grant awarded to a state: $1 million for hazardous substance removal and $1 million for petroleum remediation.
"We are pleased that Ohio's brownfield revitalization efforts are being recognized at the national level with such a significant grant to the state," said Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "These funds by the U.S. EPA will allow Ohio to expand its capabilities in helping our communities to restore blighted and distressed areas for future development."
ODOD will utilize the EPA grant through the Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund in partnership with the city of Hamilton to support the cleanup of properties with hazardous substance contamination in the city. The petroleum remediation portion of the grant will allow ODOD to collaborate with the Ohio Department of Commerce in the clean up of former gas stations across the state. Loan applications for interested communities will be available in Fall 2007 through ODOD's Urban Development Division.
Additionally, seven Ohio communities received grants from the U.S. EPA for their own brownfield revitalization projects. Barberton, Cleveland, Ironton, Lorain, Sandusky, Springfield and Tiffin received awards ranging from $200,000 to $400,000 for hazardous substance and petroleum assessments and remediation.
The Ohio Department of Development's brownfield redevelopment efforts innovatively combine federal resources along with Clean Ohio Fund programs to further locally driven brownfield redevelopment throughout Ohio. Since 2002 the Clean Ohio Fund program has invested through 151 grants over $153 million to 67 communities across the state for brownfield remediation and environmental assessments.
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Media Contact: Nikki Jaworski (614) 466-9161, njaworski@odod.state.oh.us.
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