The Ohio Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program provides $150 M with $500,000 set-aside per county grants for a wide range of revitalization projects.
A “Lead Entity” must be established for each county by December 20, 2021 who will be awarded the county’s $500,000 in funding all be only one Lead Entity per county. Where a county land reutilization corporation has been established, it shall be the Lead Entity for that county. Eligible properties for this program include commercial and residential buildings on sites that are not brownfields are eligible properties. Commercial properties include buildings that were used for retail, office, manufacturing, industrial, industrial warehousing, institutional, or other non-residential or mixed-use (meaning any mix of these uses or a mix of residential and commercial uses) purposes. Non-vacant and blighted structures are not eligible, unless they are contiguous and/or connected to vacant and blighted structures that are necessary to demolish.
Program funds may be used for site revitalization of surrounding properties on sites that are not brownfields for post demolition costs but not for other redevelopment purposes. 10% of the grant can be used for administrative and operating costs, and all work on the project must be completed by May 1, 2023. Lead Entities will have until July 15, 2023, to submit disbursement request. A final project report is required by December 31, 2023. Eligible administration costs include:
• General Management and Oversight of Program;
• Technical Support Services;
• Contractor pre-qualification;
• Spec-writing and bid preparation;
• Contract preparation;
• Evaluation and Monitoring;
• Invoice processing/payment;
• Preparation of Program Disbursement Requests;
• Report Preparation;
• Local Historic Review/Assessments; and
• State Audit(s).
Eligible pre-demo costs includes: acquisition of Real Estate (no more than 10% of the total request, not to exceed the county auditor property value); initial property inspections/assessments; property security costs, board up; grass mowing prior to demolition; interior and exterior debris removal and disposal (including illegal dumping, junk vehicles, discarded tires, etc.); environmental assessments; asbestos surveys; contract preparation and review by third-parties; architectural/engineering fees, including cost estimates, bid specifications and job progress inspections; and bid advertisements for vendors.
Eligible demo costs include:
• Removal and disposal of other hazardous materials
• Demolition of buildings including disposal, backfill, compaction
• Clearance of structures and improvements (trees, shrubs, poles, porch piers, patios, fireplaces, fences, barriers, walls, driveways, aprons, service walks, parking lots, light poles, smokestacks, signage, etc.);
• Removal of underground storage tanks and utility services including electrical transformers;
• Removal and/or filling/capping of septic systems and wells;
• Removal of additional exterior or interior dumping of debris prior to demolition;
• Vehicle towing;
• Equipment purchases or rentals, such as safety fencing, erosion control silt socks, portlets, etc.;
• Saw-cutting adjacent party walls and parging the wall to remain;
• Regulatory permit and inspection fees;
• Documented, labor, material, or equipment costs; and
• Relocation of utility structures above ground.
Eligible post-demo costs required for each project includes: site restoration (grading and seeding); and public sidewalk, curb or catch basin repair or, if required by local municipality, installation. Eligible optional post-demolition costs for each project and capped at $5,000 per project includes: greening and improvements (trees, shrubs, flowers, and other landscaping); and architectural elements (fencing, signage, benches, and other hardscaping). Ineligible costs includes: marketing of project site(s); litigation expenses for legal unrelated to tax foreclosure; property taxes; property insurance premiums; payment of delinquent utility costs; post-demo property maintenance including mowing; and costs incurred prior to the grant period (with the exception of match).
Prevailing wage applies to these projects receiving grants. Total project awards are determined at the discretion of the Ohio Department of Development and matching funds are required for non-county awards equaling at least 25%. Sources of match may include federal, state, and local funds, and future in-kind contributions. Beginning December 6, 2021, Development will begin accepting Lead Entity designation letters and grant user access forms for counties where a land reutilization corporation is not established. Lead entities must submit all applications by close of business February 28, 2022.
If you are interested in applying for the Ohio Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program, please contact Dave Robinson at [email protected].