Earlier this month, I had the privilege of spending several days with local leaders in Northeast Ohio. Youngstown, Akron, and North Canton are chockful of committed residents who are tenaciously committed to leaving their communities more beautiful and vibrant than they were before.
Brownfield remediation funding is spurring private investment into landmark buildings in downtown Youngstown, Akron, North Canton, and in the areas immediately surrounding downtown.
In Youngstown, a 2024 Brownfields Remediation Program award removed asbestos ladened caulking from the site of The Youngstown Flea—a monthly curated market of local vendors and activities.
In Akron, a 2026 BRP award will prepare the iconic Quaker Square complex for redevelopment. This unique complex of cylindrical buildings in downtown Akron will become a hotel, apartments, office, and retail.
The Hoover Factory is located in downtown North Canton, directly across from city hall and less than a mile from the public schools’ complex and public pool. After environmental remediation, the factory site has been partially repurposed as the headquarters and manufacturing hub for Diebold Nixdorf, a financial and retail technology company known for self-service machines, such as ATMs. The other part of the large complex will eventually become much needed apartments and retail.
Mitigating and removing environmental contaminants from the Youngstown Flea, Quaker Square complex, and former Hoover Factory does more than bring buildings back to habitability. These buildings and others like them are returning visitors and residents to downtown, creating jobs, and spurring more private sector investment.