Press Room >> 2010 Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2010

STATE APPROVES CLEAN OHIO GRANTS TO COMMUNITIES
FOR BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT

COLUMBUS - The State Controlling Board today approved $368,282 in Clean Ohio Assistance Fund grants for the Miami County Park District and the Athens County Port Authority for environmental assessment activities. Clean Ohio Assistance Fund grants are administered by the Ohio Department of Development's Urban Development Division and are awarded to aid in brownfield redevelopment of Ohio's urban areas.

"To date, Clean Ohio Assistance Fund grants have been awarded to more than 150 projects throughout our state for assessment and cleanup activities," said Lisa Patt-McDaniel, Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "We are pleased to offer these grants to our communities to assist them in reusing commercial and industrial properties helping to restore our statewide physical assets."

The Miami County Park District (Miami County) will receive a $219,955 Clean Ohio Assistance Fund grant to conduct a Phase II Environmental Assessment on the former City of Piqua Power Plant property. The project property is located at 919 South Main Street in the City of Piqua. The Phase II work will include the installation of 11 soil borings (up to 20 feet), 30 shallow soil borings, 20 shallow monitoring wells (up to 20 feet), and two deep monitoring wells (up to 65 feet), as well as data evaluation and reporting. All assessment work will be conducted within the project property boundary. The assessment will determine the environmental suitability of the property and the possible need for any remediation.

The Athens County Port Authority (Athens County) will receive a $148,327 Clean Ohio Assistance Fund grant to conduct a Phase II Environmental Assessment on the Theisen East Redevelopment Project property. The project property is located at 0 Poston Station Road in the City of Athens. The Phase II work will include the installation of 24 soil borings (up to 10 feet) and 10 groundwater monitoring wells (up to 30 feet), as well as a geophysical survey, data evaluation, and reporting. All assessment work will be conducted within the project property boundary. The assessment will determine the environmental suitability of the property and the possible need for any remediation.

The Clean Ohio Assistance Fund is a program of the Clean Ohio Fund, which restores, protects, and connects Ohio's important natural and urban places by preserving green space and farmland, improving outdoor recreation, and by cleaning up brownfields to encourage redevelopment and revitalize communities. The Clean Ohio Fund is part of the Ohio Bipartisan Job Stimulus Plan, which aims to create new jobs while laying the foundation for future economic prosperity.

The Clean Ohio Assistance Fund is an open cycle program that provides grant dollars for Phase II Environmental Assessment and Brownfield Cleanup/Public Health Projects. To date, 152 Clean Ohio Assistance Fund projects have been awarded totaling more than $54 million. Of the 152 projects, 47 were for cleanup projects, which leveraged more than $500 million and are expected to create more than 4,000 jobs. For more information on about the Clean Ohio Assistance Fund visit www.clean.ohio.gov.

The Urban Development Division assists communities with place-based redevelopment which creates wealth from personal, business, and community successes. The Division works to identify the resources and financing necessary to enhance the economic viability of local communities.

Working with our partners across business, state and local governments, academia, and the nonprofit sector, the Ohio Department of Development works to attract, create, grow, and retain businesses through competitive incentives and targeted investments. Engaged every day in marketing, innovating, investing, and collaborating, the Ohio Department of Development works at the speed of business to accelerate and support the teamwork that is absolutely necessary for success by providing financial, informational, and technical assistance to those making an investment in Ohio's future.

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Media contacts: Eileen Turner at (614) 728-6674
or the Communications & Marketing Office at (614) 466-2609