An Overview of the Clean Ohio Fund
In his 2000 State of the State address, Governor Bob Taft outlined
his vision for the Clean Ohio Fund, announcing that he would seek
voter approval for a $400 million program to preserve green space
and farmland, improve outdoor recreation, and revitalize blighted
neighborhoods by cleaning up and redeveloping polluted properties.
The Ohio Legislature voted by an overwhelming bipartisan majority
to endorse the Governor’s vision and place Issue 1 on the
ballot in November, 2000. With the approval of the voters, the Clean
Ohio Fund became reality (House Bill 3). Subsequently, the Legislature
created four competitive funding programs, two of which are managed
for OPWC District 11 by the TCC office: The Clean Ohio Green Space
Conservation Fund and the Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund.
Preserving Ohio's Green Spaces
Between 2001 and 2005, $150 million in grants will be awarded for
eligible conservation projects, including the purchase of open spaces
and the cost of making them accessible to the public; and for the
protection of stream corridors, the area along a waterway that provides
wildlife habitat and reduces erosion. Special emphasis will be given
to projects that:
- Protect habitat for rare, threatened or endangered species;
- Preserve high quality wetlands and other scarce natural resources;
- Preserve streamside forests, natural stream channels, functioning
floodplains, and other natural features of Ohio's waterways;
- Support comprehensive open space planning;
- Secure easements to protect stream corridors, which may be
planted with trees or vegetation to help reduce erosion and fertilizer/pesticide
runoff;
- Enhance opportunities for children to learn about Ohio's natural
resources;
- Enhance eco-tourism and economic development related to outdoor
recreation in economically challenged areas;
- Provide pedestrian or bicycle passageways between natural areas
and preserves;
- Reduce or eliminate nonnative, invasive plant and animal species;
- Provide safe areas for fishing, hunting, and trapping in a
manner that provides a balanced eco-system.
Who can apply for funds?
Local governments, park and joint recreation districts, conservancy
districts, soil and water conservation districts, and non-profit
organizations are eligible to receive grants for conservation projects
from the Clean Ohio Fund. Applicants must provide a 25 percent local
match. Local governments must be given the opportunity to endorse
or object to proposals planned within their boundaries if they are
not the applicant. When a local government does seek funding for
a project, a resolution of support from its legislative body must
be submitted.
Revitalizing Blighted Neighborhoods by Cleaning Up Brownfields
The legacy of America's and Ohio's strong manufacturing history
is the "brownfield," a former industrial site which is
now vacant or underutilized. Redevelopment of brownfields is often
inhibited because potential developers are scared away by the possibility
that the site may be polluted. The Clean Ohio Fund recognizes the
economic development potential of these properties, especially in
areas where the loss of manufacturing employment has caused economic
hardship. Between the years of 2001 and 2005, the Clean Ohio Fund
will invest at least $175 million to evaluate these sites, meet
appropriate cleanup standards, and return them to productive use.
This investment will produce both an economic and an environmental
benefit. Those who caused the pollution will not receive dollars
from the Clean Ohio Fund. In fact, they can still be pursued in
court to reimburse the cost of the cleanup.
Special emphasis will be given to projects that will be used for
a combination of industrial, commercial, or residential uses after
they are cleaned up. This mixed-use may include the incorporation
of a park or natural area. Factors to be considered during evaluation
of applications will include:
- The potential economic benefit of the project;
- The potential environmental improvement that will result from
the project;
- The potential benefit to low-income and minority communities
that will result from the project:
- The amount and nature of investment the applicant is providing
to the project;
- The funding priorities identified by local Public Works Integrating
Committees.
Who is eligible to apply for funds?
Local governments, port authorities, conservancy districts, nonprofit
organizations, and for-profit entities may apply for funding from
the brownfields portion of the Clean Ohio Fund. A conservancy district,
nonprofit or forprofit applicant must apply in cooperation with
a local government or port authority.
Applicants from throughout Ohio can apply for funds to acquire and
clean up a brownfield, demolish existing buildings, upgrade infrastructure,
and redevelop the property. In addition, 20 percent annually of
the allocation for brownfield revitalization may be available as
grants to economically disadvantaged areas to perform "site
assessments," an evaluation of a property to confirm the extent
to which it is contaminated. These funds can also be used to support
time-critical redevelopment projects in economically disadvantaged
areas, and to address contamination that threatens public health.
Links
To contact the District 11 office at TCC, please contact Louis
Agresta at (937) 521-2134 or email
lagresta@clarkcountyohio.gov.
Clean Ohio Fund Program information provided by
www.clean.ohio.gov
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