MOUNT VERNON — Another $827,161 is on its way to Knox County, this time in the form of a brownfield remediation grant.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik announced $86.1 million in state support to help clean up and redevelop 81 hazardous brownfield sites in 46 counties.
The Knox County Land Reutilization Corp. (Knox County Land Bank) will use the $827,161 for remediation projects at the 47-acre Heartland Commerce Park.
Projects include demolishing the powerhouse, removing and remediating asbestos from six heavy manufacturing facilities, and demolishing aging manufacturing and shipping buildings.
“Removing outdated infrastructure will make Heartland Commerce Park more marketable,” said Land Bank Vice President Sam Filkins. “We appreciate the state’s support in revitalizing this landmark site for Knox County.”
The land bank took control of Heartland Commerce Park, formerly the site of Siemens Energy and Rolls-Royce, in October 2020. Since then, seven companies have bought buildings on the industrial campus.
The ODOD awarded the funding through the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program, which the DeWine-Husted Administration created in 2021. Today’s announcement includes approximately $82.1 million for 65 cleanup/remediation projects and $4 million for 16 assessment projects.
Since the program launched, the Department of Development has awarded $636 million to support 626 projects in 86 counties.
The Ohio General Assembly is funding the program through the current operating budget. Ohio’s 88 counties were each eligible for at least $1 million in funding, with the remaining funds awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
