Rep. McNally Announces $3,466,471 in Brownfield Remediation Awards for Mahoning County

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) today announced that Mahoning County has received $3,466,471 through the Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program to help clean up and redevelop hazardous brownfield sites, creating new employment and development opportunities.

“I’ve been spending a lot of time lately on the phone with community partners trying to figure out how we can lessen the impact of the recent Realty building explosion, so this announcement of funds for projects within the city is helpful,” said Rep. McNally. “I’m going to keep pressing and thinking creatively on what more we can do to bring jobs, affordable housing, and businesses to the Mahoning Valley. 

The Mahoning County Land Reutilization Corporation received funding for several projects including:

• $560,962 for cleanup and remediation of McGuffey Mall,  demolishing the existing structures, removing contaminants, preparing the site for future redevelopment, marketing it for new development under the SiteOhio program, potentially enhancing site accessibility with a proposed extension of U.S. Highway Route 62, while creating nine new jobs and retaining 75 existing positions, contributing to the revitalization of the East Side.
• $225,138 for cleanup and remediation of South High School Athletic Complex, abating asbestos in the fieldhouse, demolishing the fieldhouse and outdoor bleachers, backfilling and grading the site, constructing a 3,000-seat stadium with a turf football field and track, providing a community sports facility, and stimulating neighborhood revitalization while creating 35 new jobs and promoting local economic development.
• $2,680,371 for cleanup and remediation of The Youngstown Flea, including asbestos abatement, selective demolition, and the removal of contaminated materials, following strict environmental regulations, restoring, and redeveloping the site while preserving its historical integrity, creating a mixed-use space for community events and businesses while generating 155 new jobs and revitalizing the local area.

Today’s announcement includes approximately $102.4M for 35 cleanup and remediation projects and roughly $4.5M for 26 assessment projects across 22 counties. Funds awarded will help assess and clean up industrial, commercial, and institutional brownfield sites that have been abandoned, idled, or underutilized due to a known or potential release of hazardous substances or petroleum. 

The Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program is funded by the Ohio General Assembly as part of the current operating budget.