EPA Announces More Than $6.6 Million in Brownfields Grants to Cleanup Ohio Communities
Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the selection of $6,650,000 in Brownfields grants to six organizations in Ohio that will assess, cleanup, and revitalize local lands. Nationally, EPA announced the selection of $267 million in Brownfields grants to communities across the United States.
“The $267 million in Brownfield grants will transform contaminated properties into valuable spaces for businesses and housing, creating new opportunities that strengthen local economies and directly benefit American families,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “EPA’s Brownfields program demonstrates how environmental stewardship and economic prosperity complement each other. Under President Trump’s leadership, EPA is Powering the Great American Comeback, ensuring our nation has the cleanest air, land, and water while supporting sustainable growth and fiscal responsibility.”
“Brownfields grants empower communities to reclaim and revitalize areas that have previously been underutilized,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Anne Vogel. “These grants put the agency’s commitment to protect human health and the environment into action while remaining good stewards of tax dollars and advancing policies to energize the economy.”
This round of selectees from Ohio receiving cleanup and assessment grants include:
- Butler County Land Reutilization Corporation has been selected for a $500,000 Brownfields assessment grant to conduct 11 Phase I and 11 Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to prepare up to 10 cleanup plans, conduct up to 12 public meetings, and support other community engagement activities. The target areas for this grant include the cities of Hamilton and Middletown.
- Montgomery County Land Reutilization Corporation and partners have been selected for a $1.2 million Brownfields assessment coalition grant to conduct 20 Phase I and 12 Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to update a site database, prepare seven cleanup plans, and conduct community engagement activities. Assessment activities will focus on the Cities of Dayton and Riverside. Partner organizations include Five Rivers MetroParks and the City of Riverside.
- The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund has been selected for $750,000 to supplement its existing Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund grant which has successfully made loans or subgrants for past cleanup projects. The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency has funded two cleanups with previously awarded grants. The grant funding will be used for projects in Akron and Cleveland, including the former Philadelphia Rubber Works in Akron and 7000 Central Avenue site in Cleveland.
- Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has been selected for a $2 million Brownfields community-wide assessment grant to conduct 18 Phase I and 18 Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to develop 18 cleanup and reuse plans and two areawide plans, complete five brownfield site inventories, as well as support community engagement activities. The target areas for this grant includes the Middlebury neighborhood of Akron, the former Westinghouse property area in Mansfield and the Village of Pomeroy.
- The Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund has been selected for $1 million to supplement its existing Brownfield revolving loan fund grant which has successfully made loans or subgrants for past cleanup projects. The Authority has funded cleanup of the Centennial Industrial Park with a previously awarded grant. The grant funding will be used for additional projects in Cincinnati, including the former Quantum Chemical site and the former Powell Valves Plant 2 site.
- Summit County, Ohio, and partner organizations have been selected for a $1.2 million Brownfields assessment coalition grant to conduct 30 Phase I and 20 Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to prepare five area-wide plans and conduct community engagement activities. Assessment activities will focus on the Romig Road Corridor, Akron airport area, Cuyahoga Falls/North Akron area, Akron Summit Lake, and the Innerbelt area. Other coalition members include the East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation, the City of Cuyahoga Falls, the Ohio and Erie Canalway, and the City of Akron.
Federal grant recipients must satisfy legal and administrative requirements to receive funds from EPA.
View the list of selected applicants on our website.
Background
EPA’s Brownfields program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.9 billion in Brownfield grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. To date, brownfields investments leveraged more than $42 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding was able to leverage, from both public and private sources, more than 220,500 jobs.