Greater Ohio Policy Center Statement on the Announcement of the Recent Recipients of Brownfield Remediation Program Grants

For Immediate Release
Contact: Jason Warner, Director of Strategic Engagement
614.224.0187 or [email protected]

Following an announcement earlier today by Governor Mike DeWine, Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) released the following statement in reaction of the recent recipients of Brownfield Remediation Program (BRP) grants.

"As one of the leading advocates for the investment in brownfield revitalization, Greater Ohio Policy Center is thrilled to see that the recipients of Brownfield Remediation Program grants have been announced," said Jason Warner, Director of Strategic Engagement at Greater Ohio Policy Center.

"This program, when fully executed, will provide millions of dollars to communities throughout Ohio, and along with millions more in leveraged funds from the local governments and the private sector, we can continue the important work begun three years ago, eliminating these scourges of economic progress across the state of Ohio," said Warner.

Today, Governor DeWine and the Ohio Department of Development announced more than $100 million in grants to 61 projects in 22 counties. These awards constitute the first allocations from the state's $350 million investment in brownfield remediation grants as part of the 2024-2025 state budget.

"By seizing the opportunity to remediate the thousands of environmentally contaminated brownfield sites across the state, Ohio has 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, Director 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 Program," said Warner. "GOPC and brownfield stakeholders across the state look forward to a continued investment in brownfields redevelopment."

The full list of projects receiving grants was made available today by the Ohio Department of Development, and is available on the Revitalizing Ohio's Brownfields website.

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. Earlier this year, GOPC worked with lawmakers to introduce House Bill 519, which if enacted, would create a permanent, predictable, and dedicated source of funding for brownfield clean-up beginning in the summer of 2025. House Bill 519, which is pending in the House Finance Committee, helps Ohio achieve its goal of creating jobs, new economic opportunity, and greater housing options across the state.

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.