Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) has released Unlocking Opportunity: Ohio's Brownfield Remediation Fund Awards & The Benefit of Brownfields. This white paper examines the $341 million awarded through all three rounds of the Brownfield Remediation Fund. The white paper also makes the case for allocating another $500 million to the program in the next state Operating Budget.
Passed in the FY22-23 Main Operating Budget, the Brownfield Remediation Fund (BRF) invested $341 million in environmental cleanup through grants awarded in 2022. Projects are underway to assess, cleanup, and revitalize brownfields in 83 of Ohio's 88 counties.
In total, the Brownfield Remediation Fund granted $341 million to 313 projects. Eighty-three of Ohio’s 88 counties were awarded grant dollars for 188 clean-up projects and 125 assessments. In total, nearly 98% of Ohio's population resides within counties that received grant awards.
The white paper also makes the case for more funding and recommends one adjustment to the current program to help communities, especially smaller and more rural communities, successfully compete for funds. As state policymakers consider investments in Ohio's communities through the Main Operating Budget, a further investment in the Brownfield Remediation Fund will provide local changemakers with grant dollars to clean-up the 125 assessed sites, and apply for additional funds to continue brownfields revitalization in their communities.
The full report can be accessed on GOPC’s website, which also includes the October 2022 White Paper on Round 1 grant funding, as well as case studies.