For Immediate Release
Contact: Jason Warner, Director of Strategic Engagement
614.224.0187 or jwarner@greaterohio.org
Greater Ohio Policy Center Statement on the Announcement of the Fully Granted Brownfield Remediation Fund
Following an announcement by Governor Mike DeWine on December 16, 2022, Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) released the following statement in reaction to the fully granted Brownfield Remediation Fund (BRF).
"As one of the leading advocates for the investment in brownfield revitalization, Greater Ohio Policy Center is excited to learn that all Brownfield Remediation Fund grants have been announced, and nearly all of Ohio's counties will receive funding to remediate environmentally contaminated sites in their communities" said Jason Warner, Director of Strategic Engagement at Greater Ohio Policy Center.
"This program, which was oversubscribed due to the overwhelming interest in brownfield remediation, provides nearly $350 million to municipalities and townships, and will leverage millions more funds from the local governments and the private sector to encourage redevelopment," said Warner.
Last week, Governor DeWine announced the final awards for the Brownfield Remediation Fund, which totaled nearly $350 million for 313 projects in 83 of Ohio's 88 counties. Last week's announcement of $88 million in grants for assessment and cleanup projects follows on $252 million announced in two tranches earlier this year. With these funds, Ohio's communities can assess, remediate, and redevelop blighted brownfields sites into productive, community-responsive end-uses.
"By seizing the opportunity to remediate the thousands of environmentally contaminated brownfield sites across the state, Ohio now has the potential to generate millions of dollars in additional tax revenue, provide jobs, create new housing options, and unlock new endeavors in economic development," said Aaron Clapper, Senior Manager of Outreach and Projects at Greater Ohio Policy Center. “These former factories, drycleaners, and hospitals that once discouraged investment and created barriers to development, will instead become opportunities for progress and renewal across the state.”
"Thanks to the leadership of Governor DeWine, the Ohio Department of Development, and leading advocates from both parties in the Ohio General Assembly, Ohio has asserted its brownfields leadership role through the state’s significant investment in the Brownfield Remediation Fund," said Warner. “GOPC and brownfield stakeholders across the state are thrilled by the potential of Ohio's brownfields.”
The Brownfield Remediation Fund is a one-time, $350 million grant program created in the 2021 state budget to fund the assessment, clean-up, and redevelopment of brownfield sites across the state of Ohio. Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) has been the leading advocate for dedicated funding for brownfield clean-up since the end of the Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund (CORF) in 2013.
The full list of projects receiving grants was made available last week by the Governor's Office, and is available on the Revitalizing Ohio's Brownfields website.
About the Greater Ohio Policy Center
Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization with a mission to improve Ohio’s communities through smart growth strategies and research. Our vision is a revitalized Ohio. We undertake original research and analysis, develop pragmatic policy recommendations and advocacy strategies, and deploy our convening power to meet the needs of Ohio’s local change-makers. We operate statewide.