Miami County Land Reutilization Corporation Secures Another $1.2 Million Grant

Project focuses on an economic development opportunity in Piqua

Yesterday, the Ohio Department of Development announced funding for $86.1 million in state support to help clean up and redevelop 81 hazardous brownfield sites in 46 counties.

The Ohio Department of Development is awarding the funding through the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program, which was created in 2021. Yesterday’s announcement includes approximately $82.1 million for 65 cleanup/remediation projects and $4 million for 16 assessment projects across the state.

One of those 65 cleanup and remediation projects is right here in Miami County, as the Miami County Land Reutilization Corporation is set to receive over $1.2 Million for a project in Piqua. The details of the project are below.

The County’s Land Reutilization Corporation is simply on a roll. It was just a couple of weeks ago, this publication talked about how the group secured over $2 million for two separate projects in Piqua, including work to the city’s old power plant on South Main Street.

With this latest award, the Miami County Land Reutilization Corporation has secured over $5 Million since October for a number of major projects throughout the county. This particular project announced yesterday is an investment that is specifically tied to retaining 45 jobs within the Piqua community while creating four new jobs.

How is This Funded?

The Brownfield Remediation Program was funded through the state’s 2003 two-year operating budget. The program provides grants for the cleanup of brownfield sites and to assist in the remediation of hazardous substances or petroleum at an industrial, commercial, or institutional property.

Basically, a brownfield is a former industrial or commercial site where future use is affected by real or perceived environmental contamination. Many times these abandoned properties may not have an owner that can be found or might be owned by a company that is no longer in business, yet redevelopment of these properties are hampered by environmental contamination.

Remediation includes acquisition of a brownfield, demolition performed at a brownfield, and the installation or upgrade of the minimum amount of infrastructure necessary to make a brownfield site operational for economic development activity.

Nearly $350 million in funds, were provided to the Ohio Department of Development to grant to local communities through the program. Approximately $175 million were available in Fiscal Year 2024 with $1 million reserved for each county in Ohio and the Remaining funds (approximately $82 million) were available on a first-come, first-served basis for statewide eligible projects. When Fiscal Year 2025 started in July, approximately an additional $175 million in funding became available, plus any unclaimed funds from the previous fiscal year.

In older communities, with a strong history of commercial and industrial development, like both Piqua and Troy, brownfields exist, and a good brownfield policy works to not only provide new economic opportunities for the community, but also remediate environmental concerns to improve the public’s health.

What Do You Think?

Do you think our communities have done a good job in dealing with brownfields? Are there any environmental concerns our community should be addressing? Our paid subscribers are more than welcome to leave their ideas and insights in the comment thread!

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