Press Room >> 2009 Press Releases FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE GOVERNOR, BARBASH ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $2 MILLION COLUMBUS – Governor Ted Strickland and Ohio Department of Development Interim Director Mark Barbash today announced that more than $2.2 million in Clean Ohio Assistance Fund grants were approved by the State Controlling Board for the Cities of Canton, Campbell, and Middletown for demolition and remediation activities. Clean Ohio Assistance Fund grants are awarded to aid in brownfield redevelopment of Ohio’s urban areas. 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. # # #
April 6, 2009
IN CLEAN OHIO GRANTS TO COMMUNITIES
“The Clean Ohio Assistance Fund grants, which have been awarded to more than 100 projects throughout the state and have leveraged more than $400 million in private investment, support the enhancement of our communities’ physical assets,” said Barbash. “The funds will help stimulate dilapidated sites, returning them to productive use and in turn create jobs for local citizens.”
City of Canton (Stark County) will receive a $749,590 Clean Ohio Assistance Fund grant to conduct soil remediation activities on the former Lead Smelter property. The project property is located at 1551 Beldon Avenue Southeast. This project is comprised of the last two remaining lots in the Stein Industrial Park, making it a priority for the City of Canton to remediate the site and return it to productive use. Upon completion of remediation, Putman Properties, Inc. plans to relocate its property management headquarters to the project site. Additionally, Bruening Shepler Associates, Inc. plans to invest $1.25 million to construct a 25,000 square-foot commercial building on the project property with future expansions totaling 80,000 square feet. It is anticipated that redevelopment will result in approximately 50 to 65 new or retained jobs at the project property.
City of Campbell (Mahoning County) will receive a $727,149 Clean Ohio Assistance Fund grant to conduct demolition and soil remediation activities on the former YS & T Campbell Works Pickling Line property. The project property is located at 20 Walton Avenue. The City of Campbell is working closely with A-1 Industrial Maintenance to locate its new facility on the project property. A-1 is a business that provides painting and sand-blasting services throughout the Midwest and Eastern United States. The company's current facility is not enclosed, which allows operation to occur only nine months out of the year. Once remediation activities are complete, A-1 plans to invest $150,000 to build a 5,000 square-foot facility on the project property. This new facility will allow A-1 to conduct painting and sand-blasting operations indoors 12 months a year and, as a result, create 10 new jobs.
City of Middletown (Butler County) will receive a $750,000 Clean Ohio Assistance Fund grant to conduct demolition and remediation activities on the Midwest Services and Engineering property. The project property is located at 605 Clark Street. In 2000, Midwest Services, a Division of Vail Rubber Works, began operations on the project property as a repair facility for paper mill equipment. Currently, there is approximately 55,000 square feet of dilapidated office space and 20,000 square feet of old, unusable manufacturing space located on the project property. The site jeopardizes ongoing operations of Midwest Services, as well as the health and safety of its employees. The Clean Ohio Assistance Fund grant will be used to demolish the dilapidated portions of the property and remediate a lead-impacted area. Once demolition and remediation activities are complete, Midwest Services plans to continue its current operations and is considering an expansion with the addition of a polyurethane (rubber) plant. To date, Midwest Services has invested in excess of more than $2 million in acquisition, building rehabilitation, and equipment installation costs necessary to expand Midwest Services' capabilities for the new rubber plant. Rubber production operations are expected to retain 20 jobs and create 15 to 25 new jobs over the next two years.
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 $1.57 billion Ohio Bipartisan Job Stimulus Plan, which aims to create new jobs while laying the foundation for future economic prosperity. In the Job Stimulus Plan $400 million was set aside for the Clean Ohio Fund.
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, 121 Clean Ohio Assistance Fund projects have been awarded totaling $45.4 million. Of the 121 projects, 40 were for cleanup projects which leveraged more than $400 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.
Working with our partners across business, state and local governments, academia, and the non-profit 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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