The Ross County Land Reutilization Corporation has been awarded more than $605,000 in state brownfield assessment funding to support redevelopment and environmental cleanup planning at several properties across Ross County.
The funding was announced by Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, and the Ohio Department of Development as part of the statewide Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program.
One of the projects receiving funding is the former Jordan Gas Station site, which was awarded $167,418 for environmental assessment and underground storage tank closure activities. The project will include subsurface investigations, utility marking, and removal of underground fuel tanks under Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations standards.
Once environmental work is complete, officials plan to transfer the property to the Village of Clarksburg for redevelopment into a small veterans memorial park aimed at creating new green space and encouraging community visitation.
Another project receiving state support is the historic Velvet Ice Cream Facility in Chillicothe. The former warehouse and distribution facility was awarded $87,860 for environmental assessments, including Phase I and II site studies, asbestos surveys, groundwater monitoring, soil borings, and laboratory analysis under Ohio’s Voluntary Action Program standards.
Officials said the project could help support future housing opportunities, neighborhood revitalization efforts, and business expansion elsewhere in Ross County.
The Ross County Land Bank also received $254,908 for environmental assessment and underground storage tank closure activities at a former gas station and convenience store property located at 9405 County Road 550 in Union Township.
The work will determine whether petroleum contamination has impacted soil or groundwater at the site. Following cleanup and assessment efforts, the property is expected to be redeveloped into affordable workforce housing featuring three single-family residential lots.
Another $95,296 was awarded for environmental assessment work at the former Clarksburg Nursing Home property. The nearly two-acre site previously housed a senior nursing facility before the deteriorating structure was demolished after years of vandalism and safety concerns.
Once assessments are complete, officials said the property will be prepared for future redevelopment opportunities.
State officials announced a total of $61 million in brownfield funding statewide this year, including support for assessment and cleanup projects in 75 counties.
Since the Brownfield Remediation Program launched in 2021, Ohio has invested nearly $780 million into projects designed to clean up abandoned industrial and commercial sites and prepare them for future economic development.
