While we are grateful that lawmakers in the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate agree it is important to fund the remediation, revitalization, and redevelopment of blighted brownfield sites across the state, we are nonetheless disappointed that the state budget places restrictions on who can apply for funding under the brownfield remediation and building demolition programs.
It is our belief that the necessity of a lead applicant submitting all applications on behalf of Ohio’s counties will unnecessarily delay and inhibit the ability of program funds being put to use statewide. The lack of explicit language authorizing private entities to be sub-recipients of funding gives us greater concern, as we believe this is an unnecessary extra-layer of bureaucratic red tape which will significantly slow the progress we have made remediation the thousands of brownfield sites which currently exist throughout Ohio.
Greater Ohio Policy Center will continue to work with interested parties, local governments, and the Ohio Department of Development to ensure that the brownfield remediation program continues to make the important impact it was created to achieve statewide.