More than $60 million in funding has been allocated across Ohio to help local communities clean up dozens of contaminated brownfield properties to make way for future economic development.

Funds awarded will help to assess and clean up industrial, commercial, and institutional brownfield sites that are abandoned, idled, or underutilized due to a known or potential release of hazardous substances or petroleum

As part of the program, the Ohio Department of Development is providing funding for 78 projects, including approximately $54.8 million for 37 clean-up projects and $5.5 million for 41 assessment projects.

These projects will impact communities in 35 counties across the state.

Locally those projects include:

The Columbiana County Land Reutilization Corporation will receive $1,180,421 for the cleanup and remediation of the Maryland School Project

Constructed as a junior high school in 1954, this property hosted numerous occupants prior to 2017 when it was vacated. The building has since fallen into disrepair.

Funds will help with the abatement of known asbestos prior to the demolition of the site.

Demolition and cleanup of the site will remove this blight from the community and open the site for future use.

The Trumbull County Land Reutilization Corporation will receive money for two major projects

First, $3,438,857 has been allocated for the cleanup and remediation of the Former St. Joseph Riverside Hospital.

Utilized by St. Joseph Riverside Hospital from the late 1950s through 1995, the building has undergone multiple additions since its construction in 1923 including improvements to the south wing in 2004 and 2007.

The property will have environmental remediation, including potential petroleum and other subsurface hazards associated with the off-site laundry facility on the west end of the property.

The property will be demolished, and new soil will be brought in to ensure the property is able to be developed, either residential or commercial/industrial
development.

Also in Trumbull County, $3,878 has been allocated for an assessment of Trumbull Industries.

Originally the Van Huffel Tube Company from the 1930s until 1985, the 135-acre site was later divided into four parcels, three of which are currently occupied and used for warehousing and manufacturing.

The project assessment includes an evaluation to determine if a release of hazardous substances or petroleum may have occurred.

After assessment and any needed remediation, existing structures can make needed upgrades.

"These hazardous, decaying sites, some of which have been vacant for decades, are barriers to economic growth and community revitalization, but now, we're going to help breathe new life into these areas," said Governor DeWine. "The projects we're funding today will not only revive these sites for new development, but they'll also improve quality of life and open the door for exciting new opportunities for the citizens of our state."

The $60 million grant announcement represents the first group of grants awarded as part of Round 1 of the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program, with nearly $350 million to be invested in total across the state in the coming months.