The Clean Ohio Council awarded half the available funds for brownfield redevelopment for fiscal year 2012 two weeks ago.  As discussed in prior posts, available funding is running out in the next few months.

The future of State brownfield funding became uncertain when the Kasich Administration shifted funding from the state’s liquor profits to JobsOhio.  I was interviewed for an article appearing in Gongwer last week discussing the future of the program.   It is clear from the article that the Administration is trying to replace the liquor profits with different funding to continue brownfield grants beyond fiscal year 2012. 

Ms. Sabatino said the administration has indicated the program will continue, although it has yet to identify an alternative source of funding. "I know they’re actively working on it as we speak," she said.

Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols added, "Helping put brownfields back to work to create jobs is valuable and something Ohio will continue to do. As we transition from state-run job growth efforts to efforts run by the private-sector experts at JobsOhio, we’re evaluating these programs to make sure we have the right
tools to serve job creators and to make sure taxpayers are getting a good return on their investment."…

The revitalization program provides reimbursements to communities working to clean up brownfield sites, and interest in the program has been high, DOD Community Services Division Chief William Murdock said. "There’s more demand than there is supply, and that’s a really good sign," he said.

Mr. Koncelik said, however, the few projects that were denied funding in this round could multiply should the future financial source be smaller than the previous one.
"A new revenue source may dramatically cut down the available funding, and won’t have as robust a program, not as many projects will happen," he said, adding it could be half a dozen or more projects that are rejected in future rounds.

I am glad to see the future of the program is starting to get coverage in various publications.  It is an important public policy issue that deserves such coverage.

(Gongwer article provided with permission of publisher)