Press release and staff report
news@wbcowqel.com
The Controlling Board of the state’s Development Services Agency approved more than $700,000 in new awards to four communities to clean up abandoned gas station sites. Among those sites designated for cleanup is a longtime Bucyrus eyesore.
The Crawford County Commissioners received a grant totaling $100,000 to clean up the former AP Gas Station 501 East Mansfield Street, Bucyrus. Previous efforts to deal with the abandoned station have included the possibility of using Brownfield grants and eventually turning the site into a park.
Projects were evaluated on the impact cleanup will have on the environment, the community, and the local economy.
“We’re funding local initiatives to transform blighted, high traffic corners into viable sites for development,” said David Goodman, director of the Ohio Development Services Agency. “We’re making what’s old, new again.”
Political subdivisions including county land banks are eligible for the Abandoned Gas Station Cleanup Program. Assessment grants are accepted and awarded on an on-going basis, as are Fast Track grants. Competitive Cleanup and Remediation applications will be accepted online at https://www.development.ohio.gov/cs/cs_agsc.htm for the third funding round until the close of business on Tuesday, February 28, 2017.
Other entities receiving grant monies include the Adams County Commissioners, the City of North Royalton in Cuyahoga County, and the Village of Manchester in Adams County.