By Jason Warner and Aaron Clapper

The Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) has made available revised guidelines for the Brownfield Remediation Program, offering guidance for those entities seeking grant funds for the cleanup and redevelopment of brownfield sites across Ohio. 

The Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program provides grants for the clean-up and remediation of brownfield sites. Remediation activities includes the acquisition of a brownfield, demolition performed at a brownfield, and the installation or upgrade of the minimum amount of infrastructure necessary to make a brownfield site operational for economic development activity, including the construction of housing.

$350 million in funds for the Brownfield Remediation Program has been made available over the next two years. Approximately $175 million will be available now through April 1. During this first year of program funding, $1 million has been reserved for each county in the state. $82 million in competitive grants will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis. Any remaining funds unreserved for projects this year will be made available along with an additional $175 million in funding during in the next fiscal year, beginning in July, 2024. All awards next year will be awarded in the form of competitive grants awarded on a first come, first serve basis.

• Projects in each county must be submitted through a designated lead applicant. The lead applicant is responsible for the submission of all applications for that county and will serve as a pass-through entity for project funds. Click here for a list of lead entities.

• Eligible subrecipients of grant funds, who must have an executed agreement with the lead applicant include local governments (cites, townships, and counties), nonprofit organizations, community development corporations, regional planning commissions, county land banks, and community action agencies.

• For-profit entities are eligible if they have written agreements with the lead entity or an eligible sub-recipient. Requirements for agreement will likely vary from county to county, so be sure to check with the lead applicant before the application window opens.

ODOD will open the application portal on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. Applications will be accepted until Monday, April 1, 2024 (or when all available funds have been accounted for). Before applications are accepted, ODOD is expected to make an FAQ available to help answer any questions potential grant recipients may have about the program.

Those who are interested in applying for funds and learning more about brownfield remediation can visit the Ohio Brownfields website, an initiative of the Greater Ohio Policy Center.

Join GOPC, the Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA),  the Ohio Land Bank Association (OLBA), and the County Commissioners Association of Ohio (CCAO) on Monday, December 11, 2023 from 11:00am - 12:30pm for a free webinar with the Ohio Department of Development and stakeholders / practitioners from around Ohio to learn more about the Brownfield Remediation Program and this years funding opportunities.