We need a unified voice to secure critical funding for brownfield redevelopment in the FY25-FY26 biennial budget. The Ohio Land Bank Association (OLBA) has a proposal to enhance the Brownfield Remediation & Building Demolition and Site Revitalization programs ensuring every county receives funding and has local control to clean up contaminated properties and revitalize their communities.
By signing on, you are joining a group of local governments, land banks, community organizations, and redevelopment advocates in supporting of the proposed amendments outlined below. The full list will be included with OLBA testimony to be submitted to the Ohio House Finance Committee meeting scheduled Thursday, March 13, 2025. We ask that everyone sign on to the letter by Tuesday, March 11, 2025 to be included in this testimony. You can sign on after this point, but you will not be included on this testimony, but will be included on future testimony needs.
Key Program Updates & Improvements:
We all understand that the first-come, first-served approach has been less than ideal and has created challenges, particularly for smaller communities. The OLBA’s proposed changes to the existing program ensure every county receives a share of the funding, while still directing additional resources where they are most needed.
This approach also puts decision-making in the hands of local communities, rather than favoring those who can move the fastest. By establishing a baseline allocation for every county and distributing any unspent funds based on need, we are working to make this program more predictable, more accessible, and more effective for communities of all sizes.
By signing on, you are joining a group of local governments, land banks, community organizations, and redevelopment advocates in supporting of the proposed amendments outlined below. The full list will be included with OLBA testimony to be submitted to the Ohio House Finance Committee meeting scheduled Thursday, March 13, 2025. We ask that everyone sign on to the letter by Tuesday, March 11, 2025 to be included in this testimony. You can sign on after this point, but you will not be included on this testimony, but will be included on future testimony needs.
Key Program Updates & Improvements:
- Allocate $350 Million in Funding for FY26-27
- Consolidate the Brownfield Remediation Program and the Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program into a single, flexible grant program.
- Every Ohio county receives a minimum of $1.5 million in funding, with no matching requirement for brownfield remediation and/or demolition activities.
- The remaining $218 million is allocated based on 2020 census population, with a 25% local match requirement.
- Counties must encumber their funds within one year, after which unspent funds will be reallocated based on demonstrated need.
- County commissioners designate a lead entity and expands subrecipients to allow for-profit entities to participate.
We all understand that the first-come, first-served approach has been less than ideal and has created challenges, particularly for smaller communities. The OLBA’s proposed changes to the existing program ensure every county receives a share of the funding, while still directing additional resources where they are most needed.
This approach also puts decision-making in the hands of local communities, rather than favoring those who can move the fastest. By establishing a baseline allocation for every county and distributing any unspent funds based on need, we are working to make this program more predictable, more accessible, and more effective for communities of all sizes.
SEE COUNTY-BY-COUNTY BREAKDOWN OF FUNDS HERE
