County receives $700K from state

Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development and former mayor of Findlay, announced Tuesday at the Findlay Municipal Building that Hancock County has been awarded more than $700,000 in state grant funding. The funding comes from the new Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program, which includes $350 million that Mihalik said had been put into the state budget for communities to "help clear obstacles" in the way of economic development. Findlay's projects were among 78 projects in 35 counties, totaling $60 million, which were announced Tuesday in Round 1 of the grants. They include approximately $54.8 million for 37 cleanup projects and $5.5 million for 41 assessment projects, according to a press release from Gov. Mike DeWine's office. "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," DeWine said in the release. Mihalik visited Findlay and other communities Tuesday announcing these projects, and DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced projects elsewhere. The Hancock County Commissioners Office will receive $492,800 for the Ra-Nik Cleanup Project on the north side of the Blanchard River in downtown Findlay, where phase two of river benching is planned to alleviate flooding. Constructed in 1890, the now-vacant structure was once an operational nickel plating company. Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn said the site is contaminated with metals and other chemicals. It is on a 1.2-acre parcel in Findlay. Cleanup activities include pre-demolition, asbestos removal, demolition, transportation and disposal. After remediation, the site will be redeveloped as public greenspace and improvement to river banks. Muryn said the city plans to break ground on phase two of benching this fall. Hancock County Commissioner Timothy Bechtol said local flood mitigation funds have been used to tear much of the building down to its base. So, receiving the state funding for cleanup means local funds can be used for other needs, he said. The commissioners office also received $231,000 for the Lai Assessment Project. The property is on the northeast corner of the intersection of County Road 99 and Interstate 75. Largely undeveloped land, this property contains 12 bulk aboveground storage tanks built between 1903 and 1939. The tanks were dismantled starting in the 1950s and the property has been mostly vacant since the removal was completed in the 1970s. Prior assessments identified potential contamination on the property, and the funds announced Tuesday will allow for further assessment, expected to begin this summer. The city and property owners are working to redevelop the area as potential housing or commercial development. Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development Director Tim Mayle said the area — which includes everything from recreation (in the form of The Cube) to distribution and logistics to residential neighborhoods — is growing and changing. The plan is to "visually create a gateway" as people enter Findlay from the north, he said. Mihalik said her department received just over $260 million in applications for the $350 million in grant funding, so all eligible projects that they received could be funded. Each county was given the opportunity to apply for up to $1 million of the funding. This first $1 million is match-free, Mihalik said. Other northwest Ohio agencies awarded grants include the Port Authority of Allen County, which received $710,000 for asbestos abatement and demolition of the former Allen County Home, vacant for more than a decade; and the Lucas County Land Reutilization Corp., which received $1 million for asbestos abatement and lead-based paint removal throughout the Spitzer Building in downtown Toledo, constructed in the 1890s as one of the earliest skyscrapers in Ohio. In Mansfield, where DeWine announced the grant awards Tuesday, a $3 million grant will be used to remediate petroleum tanks and hazardous chemicals at the remaining Westinghouse Electric Products buildings, which have been vacant since 1990, the press release states. Westinghouse produced appliances such as electric ranges, curling irons and coffee makers beginning in 1918. Mihalik said the program was intended to give "some flexibility" in funding many different types of projects, both large and small. A related grant program will provide $150 million in demolition funding. Mihalik said her department is currently evaluating applications and will announce these grants soon. Lizzy Essinger, grants administrator for Hancock Regional Planning Commission, said Hancock County is applying for funding to demolish several properties, including "six great big grain silos in Jenera." Demolishing these would open up space that could be used by new businesses, or could be used as greenspace, she said. The demolition projects also include a barn an older man wishes to tear down so it won't be a burden on his children, Essinger said. Regional Planning Commission Director Matt Cordonnier said communities like Findlay and Hancock County usually must compete against larger cities like Cleveland and Cincinnati for these grants, but having $1 million set aside for each county makes it easier for smaller communities to get funding.