Governor DeWine Announces More Than $55 Million  for Demolition and Brownfield Remediation Projects 

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik announced more than $55 million in continued support for brownfield remediation and building demolition projects across the state on Monday.

The Department of Development is awarding the funding through the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program and Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program. Both grant programs were developed by the DeWine-Husted Administration in partnership with the Ohio General Assembly to create room for new economic opportunities in areas that currently cannot be developed due to contamination or the presence of vacant, dilapidated structures.  

Today’s announcement represents the seventh round of funding for both programs, and the final demolition awards for this biennium.  

The new Ohio Brownfield Remediation grants announced today total $22.7 million to clean up and redevelop 27 hazardous brownfield sites in 19 counties, including $2.4 million in funding to redevelop a longtime manufacturing site in Fulton County into a mixed-use development with commercial and residential spaces. 

Since the launch of the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program in 2021, Development has awarded more than $510 million to support 489 projects in 85 counties. 

The new Ohio Demolition and Site Revitalization grants announced today total $33.2 million to demolish 1,091 vacant, dilapidated buildings in 65 counties. Projects include the razing of the long-vacant former Dillard’s department store at Midway Mall in Elyria and a series of demolitions along East Sixth, West Fifth, and River Street in Franklin that will play a role in revitalizing its historic downtown. 

As part of the Demolition and Site Revitalization Program, $500,000 was set-aside for all of Ohio’s 88 counties and the program’s remaining funds were awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Sixty-one of the awards announced today represent the total amount requested by each county up to its $500,000 set-aside and are pending final eligibility determination.

Since the launch of the Ohio Demolition and Site Revitalization Program in 2021, more than $303 million in grants have been awarded to support more than 6,000 demolition projects in every county in the state.  

Both programs are part of Governor Mike DeWine’s Ohio BUILDS Initiative, which focuses on supporting targeted solutions that impact quality of life, such as water infrastructure improvements, broadband expansion, brownfield redevelopment, and the demolition of blighted buildings.

Hardin County will receive $500,000 for 14 sites. Three of those are in Kenton, three in Alger and three in Mt. Victory. Two properties are in Dunkirk and there are one each in Ada, Forest and Waynesfield.

In addition, a total of $22.7 million has been awarded to clean up and redevelop 27 hazardous brownfield sites in 19 counties.

In our region, Allen County was awarded grants for two projects. That includes 1.6 million dollars to cleanup and remediate the former TB Hospital.

The project will involve asbestos abatement and demolition of a partially demolished hospital that closed in 1970. The structure poses significant safety risks due to exposure and frequent trespassing.

$1.4 million dollars was awarded for cleanup and remediation of the former Macy’s Building. The project will abate asbestos and demolish the building that has been vacant since the mall’s decline. The demolition will allow for the construction of a new anchor store, creating approximately 200 jobs.

For a full list of the Round 7: New Brownfield Remediation Projects, please click here.

For a full list of the Round 7: New Demolition Projects, please click here.