State funding will help clean up brownfields in Kent and Ravenna

The Portage County Land Reutilization Corporation (Land Bank) has been awarded $375,000 in Brownfield Remediation Program funding through the State of Ohio to address environmental challenges and spur redevelopment in Portage County.

Specifically, this round of BRP funding will be used to conduct environmental assessments at 200 W. Williams St. in Kent and 571 N. Walnut St. in Ravenna. These assessments will inform cleanup strategies and better position these properties for redevelopment.

A brownfield is an abandoned, idled or underutilized industrial, commercial or institutional property where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by known or potential releases of hazardous substances or petroleum.

“This funding from the Ohio Department of Development will be instrumental in transforming these currently underutilized properties back to productive economic use again,” said Dan Morganti, executive director of the Portage County Land Bank. “It is not uncommon for properties associated with a long history of industrial use to have environmental concerns. The grant program will allow us to address these challenges and create new opportunities for sustainable economic growth.”

The BRP funding for the two Portage County sites was announced Aug. 9 as part of $106.9 million in state support to help clean up and redevelop 61 hazardous brownfield sites in 22 counties. This includes approximately $102.4 million for 35 cleanup/remediation projects and roughly $4.5 million for 26 assessment projects.

“There is no easy way to clean up the contamination at these sites; they all need expert remediation that’s too costly for communities to take on alone,” Governor Mike DeWine said. “Through this program, we’re helping local communities reclaim hazardous properties so that they can be reimagined and redeveloped.”

Lt. Governor Jon Husted added: “These grants will take hazardous properties and turn them into valuable economic assets for residential and commercial development. I am hopeful these sites will serve to provide new businesses, new jobs and new homes for the next generation of Ohioans.”

The Portage County Land Bank has an additional three projects under review by the state that, in total, would bring over $1 million to Portage County to assess, clean up and prepare brownfield sites for redevelopment.

Since the launch of the Brownfield Remediation Program in 2021, the Ohio Department of Development has awarded more than $450 million to support 374 projects in 83 counties. Additional awards will be announced in the coming months.

“More than anything, this program is turning challenges into opportunities,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “These funds will empower our community leaders to create safe, vibrant spaces that attract investment and enhance the lives of Ohioans.”