Successful Brownfield Remediation Projects from Around Ohio
When a sustained, flexible statewide funding program for brownfield redevelopment is available, communities across the state experience economic development that can lead to jobs, increased tax revenue, business development, and new housing. To understand the economic impacts that economic development has when a statewide brownfield program exists, check out the in-depth case studies from across Ohio. These projects (below) saw public and private partnerships to enhance communities across the state.
Unlocking Opportunity: Ohio’s Brownfield Remediation Fund Awards & The Benefits of Brownfields
The Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) has released a white paper “Unlocking Opportunity: Ohio’s Brownfield Remediation Fund Awards & The Benefit of Brownfields,” which analyzes the 313 projected awarded grant funding through the Brownfield Remediation Fund, and makes the case for additional funding for environmental clean-up.
The white paper examines the $341 million awarded by the Ohio Department of Development through the three rounds, announced in June 2022 and December 2022. The $341 million awarded includes 313 assessment and cleanup projects in 83 of Ohio’s 88 counties. These funds will clean up 188 sites and support 125 assessments. The anticipated end uses for the remediated sites are impressive, including: mixed-use, affordable housing, transit, and new industrial sites. The white paper provides additional analysis of the awards.
The white paper also makes the case for allocating another $500 million to the program and recommends one adjustment to help communities, especially smaller and more rural communities, successfully compete for funds.
The Brownfield Remediation Fund (BRF) brought the most significant investment in brownfield grant dollars to Ohio in nearly a decade. Over the past several years, the Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) has served as Ohio’s lead advocate for policies that encourage brownfields redevelopment, which includes a dedicated grant funding program. GOPC research has shown that accessible grant dollars significantly increase environmental cleanup by providing local communities and brownfields practitioners with additional resources to assess, remediate, and revitalize brownfields sites across the state of Ohio.
In October 2022, GOPC released a White Paper to analyze the Brownfield Remediation Fund grant awards for the first round of the program. The updated White Paper analyzes the program’s full funding, which includes Round 1. To read the October 2022 White Paper, click below
The Benefits of Brownfields for Ohio’s Communities
Since 2021, Ohio’s General Assembly has committed $700 million to support brownfield assessments and clean up projects. The Brownfield Remediation Program (BRP) is the first significant investment in brownfield remediation efforts since the sunset of the Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund in 2013. The BRP is on track to catalyze significant economic impacts and community benefits across Ohio.
Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) is proud to share “The Benefits of Brownfields for Ohio’s Communities: An Analysis of the Brownfield Remediation Program Over the Past Three Years”. This white paper examines the $659 million awarded between 2022 and 2024 for the Brownfield Remediation Program. The white paper also makes the case for allocating additional dollars to a statewide brownfield grant program in the next state Operating Budget.
To date, the Brownfield Remediation Fund has granted $659 million to 631 projects. Eighty-six of Ohio’s 88 counties were awarded grant dollars for 380 clean-up projects and 251 assessments. According to the Ohio Department of Development, in early 2025, roughly $50M will become available for competitive applications. This application window will be the final dollars of the $700M made available over of the past two budget allocations.
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 a state brownfield grant program can continue to provide local changemakers with grant dollars to clean-up the more than 250 assessed sites awarded grants in the past three years, and apply for additional funds to continue brownfields revitalization in their communities.
Building on the Brownfield Momentum
Since 2021, Ohio’s General Assembly has committed $900 million to support brownfield assessments and cleanup projects. The Brownfield Remediation Program (BRP) and its significant investment has established a new precedent around brownfield remediation and redevelopment efforts since the sunset of the Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund in 2013. The BRP is on track to catalyze significant economic impacts and community benefits across Ohio.
Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) is proud to share “Building on the Brownfields Momentum: An Analysis of the Brownfield Remediation Program Over the Past Four Years (2021-2025)”. This white paper examines the $719 million awarded between 2022 and June 2025. The white paper also highlights the importance of continued advocacy for additional dollars in a statewide brownfield grant program that continues to be community-responsive and meet the needs of Ohio’s communities.
To date, the Brownfield Remediation Fund has granted $719 million to 682 projects. Eighty-six of Ohio’s 88 counties were awarded grant dollars for 423 clean-up projects and 259 assessments. An additional $200M, allocated in the FY26-27 State Operating Budget, will soon become available through the Ohio Department of Development. Minor adjustments in the statutory language of the BRP are under review at ODOD.
The white paper also highlights the importance of continued advocacy for the continued investment in a statewide brownfield grant program. While the $900M over the past three budgets has made a significant impact, continuing to invest in a grant program will continue to revitalize brownfields in all parts of the state. The BRP has completed more than 250 assessments, which are prime opportunities for continued investment to see these sites move into cleanup, and most importantly, redevelopment. Brownfields are at the forefront of state and local policy as a tool to unlock opportunity.
Brownfield Remediation Fund Grants
Below is a breakdown of the grants which have been awarded to date. Broken down into two batches, these grants were the result of applications from the first round of the Brownfield Remediation Fund which closed on January 31, 2022. Grants are broken down into two types, Assessment Grants and Clean Up Grants. Click on the dots to learn more about each grant. You can also select the second tap to learn more about the projects Greater Ohio has selected for case studies.
The Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund
The Brownfield Remediation Fund is not Ohio’s first program dedicated to the clean up and redevelopment of brownfield sites in Ohio. From 2002-2013, the Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund (CORF) provided nearly $400 million towards in grants for the remediation of brownfields across Ohio. Click below to learn more about the history and successes of the CORF program.