Press Room >> 2010 Press Releases

For Immediate Release
May 27, 2010

Patt-McDaniel Announces More than $23 Million in Clean Ohio
Revitalization Fund Grants to Communities

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Department of Development Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel today announced more than $23 million in Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grants to 10 brownfield clean-up projects throughout the state. The funding, approved at a Clean Ohio Council Round Eight Award meeting, will allow for the reuse of commercial and industrial properties that are currently idle and is expected to create and retain up to 925 jobs.

"We are pleased to see new life going into these properties," Patt-McDaniel said. "The Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund helps to preserve Ohio's history and improve the overall quality of life for Ohioans."

The Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund program is a statewide competitive program that provides grants of up to $3 million to acquire property, demolish structures, conduct environmental cleanup, and improve infrastructure on or serving a brownfield property. Since its inception, 106 Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund projects have been awarded more than $237 million, leveraged more than $2.9 billion in private sector investment, and created or retained more than 11,000 jobs. The grants are contingent upon State Controlling Board approval.

Round Eight Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund award recipients are as follows:

City of Akron (Imperial Electric and XXth Century Heating and Ventilating) – The City of Akron will receive a $1,230,000 Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grant to complete remediation and demolition activities at the former industrial properties of Imperial Electric Company and XXth Century Heating and Ventilating. Imperial Electric and adjoining XXth Century each have had an industrial history for the past 100 years. The City of Akron has acquired both properties and plans to market them as one of the city's ready to build properties. There has also been interest in the property by the adjacent American Utility Processing Company, which has discussed expansion plans onto the XXth Century portion of the property, which would create 60 jobs over nine years.

City of Cincinnati (Providence North Redevelopment) – The City of Cincinnati will receive a $3 million Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grant for the acquisition and completion of remediation and demolition activities for six buildings located on Findlay Street. Formerly, the properties were used for apartments, a dry cleaning supply warehouse, an auto repair shop, and an electrical supply company. With assistance from the Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund, the six buildings will be demolished. Upon completion of remediation and demolition, the property will be used by the Samuel Adams Brewery Company to expand its existing operations, retaining 100 positions.

City of Columbus (Former Kimball Midwest Site) – The City of Columbus will receive a $3 million Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grant for the acquisition and completion of remediation and demolition activities at the former Kimball Midwest site located on West Goodale Street. The property has more than 120 years of industrial and commercial history, and was once used as a metal foundry in the late 1800s. The property has multiple buildings that will be rehabilitated using Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for reuse as 110 residential units and a parking garage. The property will also include access to a new City of Columbus pedestrian, bike bath, and bridge over the Olentangy River and connect to the Olentangy Bike Path. The Kimball Midwest property is one of the industrial properties in what has been turned into a residential neighborhood. The project is expected to create three jobs.

Cuyahoga County (American Industrial Buildings and Art Metals Site) – Cuyahoga County will receive a $3 million Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grant to complete remediation and demolition activities on Euclid Avenue. The former industrial property has a history of seven different owners and more than 30 different tenants. One of the more well-known uses was automobile production company, F.B. Stearns Company, in the early 1900s, however the site has been vacant for nearly a decade. Upon completion of remediation, the property will be turned into an Advanced Energy Facility operated by the Medical Center Company. The property will include an electrical substation, an administration building, and a boiler plant to be completed over two phases. The project is expected to retain 30 positions.

Village of Cuyahoga Heights (Grant Avenue Redevelopment) – The Village of Cuyahoga Heights will receive a $3 million Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grant to complete remediation and demolition activities at 6551 Grant Avenue. The property has a manufacturing history dating back to 1950, and was used to manufacture movable interior steel partitions and steel office furniture. In 1996, the property was purchased by Grant Realty Ltd. for multi-tenant use. Currently, there are four tenants in the facility, employing 61 people. Upon completion of remediation, the property will continue to be used as a multi-tenant facility. The redevelopment plans include the construction of a 50,000-square-foot facility that would allow existing tenants to expand, create 15 jobs, and provide space for new companies to start businesses.

Hamilton County (Former Kahn's and Sara Lee Site) – Hamilton County will receive a $3 million Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grant to complete remediation and demolition activities at the former Kahn's and Sara Lee property, which has a history dating back to the 1890s. Upon completion of remediation and demolition, the property will be occupied by Micro Metal Finishing, LLC, which is an active member of the Camp Washington Business Association. The project will create 25 new jobs and retain 50 positions. The remediation and redevelopment will incorporate green practices including building debris and storm water controls, and energy efficient design.

City of Huron (ConAgra Redevelopment Project) – The City of Huron will receive a $2 million Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grant to complete remediation and demolition activities at the former ConAgra facility on East Cleveland Road. The property was originally built for grain milling and shipping in the 1950s. ConAgra vacated the site in 2006. Upon completion of remediation and demolition of all buildings on the site, the City of Huron hopes to redevelop the property as a mixed- use development including residential, retail, and green space. The site is prime land for redevelopment because of its location on the Huron River.

City of Urbana (Former Fox River Paper Mill) – The City of Urbana will receive a $3 million Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grant for acquisition and the completion of remediation and demolition activities at the former Fox River Paper Mill on West Court Street. The mill has a manufacturing history dating back to the 1900s when Howard Paper Company operated the site. The Neenah Paper Company, the last operator on site, closed in 2007. Upon completion of remediation, Weidmann Electrical Technology Inc. will redevelop the property to create a manufacturing operation with 110 jobs. Weidmann Electrical Technology designs and manufactures electrical insulation for oil-filled transformers.

City of Wilmington (Redevelopment of Textron, Inc. and United Brother of Carpenters and Joiners of America Property) – The City of Wilmington will receive a $1,850,753 Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grant for the acquisition and completion of remediation and demolition activities at 370 and 474 South Nelson Avenue. The properties have been used for commercial and industrial purposes since 1950. Kautex Textron, the most recent car part manufacturer on the property, stopped operations at the site in July 2009. Upon completion of remediation and demolition, the property will be used by the City of Wilmington to construct a 3 million gallon equalization basin to support expanded capacity for the existing wastewater treatment facility. The Wastewater Treatment Plant Department and Streets Department will also move offices to the property. The project will retain 32 positions.

City of Youngstown (Former Asphalt Plant Property) – The City of Youngstown will receive a $569,859 Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grant to complete remediation and demolition activities at the former Asphalt Plant Property on South State Street. The property has had a long industrial history dating back more than 100 years. The site was used for an oil cloth factory, slaughter house, a plumbing contractor, and more. The most recent use was an asphalt plant that closed in the early 2000s. The City of Youngstown purchased the property in 2009 and upon completion of remediation, V&M Star plans to expand onto the property as part of the larger Brier Hill Industrial Park redevelopment, and will create 500 jobs.

The Clean Ohio Fund 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. For more information about the Clean Ohio 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 Urban Development 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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or the Communications and Marketing Office at (614) 466-2609