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 The Clean Ohio Fund was established to preserve green space and farmland, improve outdoor recreation, and revitalize blighted neighborhoods by cleaning up and redeveloping polluted properties.
Recognizing the importance of this fund, Governor Ted Strickland proposed renewal of the Clean Ohio Fund through the bi-partisan job stimulus package. This issue is expected to appear on the ballot in November 2008.
The citizens of Ohio voted to approve the $400 million bond program in 2000. Since that time, it has funded numerous projects around the state consisting of four competitive programs:
Clean Ohio Trails Fund ($25 million)
The Clean Ohio Trails Fund ($25 million) works to improve outdoor recreational opportunities for Ohioans by funding trails for outdoor pursuits of all kinds. Special emphasis was given to projects that:
- Are consistent with the statewide trail plan;
- Complete regional trail systems and links to the statewide trail plan;
- Link population centers with outdoor recreation area and facilities;
- Involve the purchase of rail lines linked to the statewide trail plan;
- Preserve natural corridors;
- Provide links in urban areas to support commuter access and provide economic benefit.
Who Could Apply?
Local governments, park and joint recreation districts, conservancy districts, soil and water conservation districts, and non-profit organizations are eligible to receive grants for conservation projects from the Clean Ohio Fund. Applicants must provide a 25 percent local match, which can include contributions of land, labor, or materials.
Contact: John Lynch ODNR, Division of Real Estate and Land Management • 2045 Morse Road, C-4, Columbus, Ohio • 43229-6693 • 614-265-6825 • john.lynch@dnr.state.oh.us
Additional Grant Information
Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program
The Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program ($150 million) helps to fund preservation of open spaces, sensitive ecological areas, and stream corridors. Special emphasis was given to projects that:
- Protect habitat for rare, threatened or endangered species;
- Preserve high quality wetlands and other scarce natural resources;
- Preserve streamside forests, natural stream channels, functioning floodplains, and other natural features of Ohio’s waterways;
- Support comprehensive open space planning;
- Secure easements to protect stream corridors, which may be planted with trees or vegetation to help reduce erosion and fertilizer/pesticide runoff;
- Enhance eco-tourism and economic development related to outdoor recreation in economically challenged areas;
- Provide pedestrian or bicycle passageways between natural areas and preserves;
- Reduce or eliminate nonnative, invasive plant and animal species;
- Provide safe areas for fishing, hunting and trapping in a manner that provides a balanced eco-system.
Who Could Apply?
- Local governments, park and joint recreation districts, conservancy districts, soil and water conservation districts, and non-profit organizations were eligible to receive grants for conservation projects from the Clean Ohio Fund. Applicants must provide a 25 percent local match. Local governments must be given the opportunity to endorse or object to proposals planned within their boundaries if they are not the applicant. When a local government does seek funding for a project, a resolution of support from its legislative body must be submitted.
Clean Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Program
The Clean Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Program ($25 million) supports the permanent preservation of Ohio’s most valuable farmland through the purchase of development rights. In choosing farms to protect through easements, special emphasis was given to those with these characteristics:
- Valuable soil types, including locally unique or important soils, microclimates or similar features;
- Farms where agricultural “best management practices” are in use;
- Local comprehensive land use plans that identify areas for agricultural protection;
- Land that is close to other agricultural lands, especially those that are protected from development pressures;
- Land that faces development pressures, but is not directly in the path of urban development.
Who Could Apply?
Local governments and charitable organizations are eligible to apply for grants to purchase agricultural easements. Grants will be issued for up to 75 percent of the value of the easement. The applicant must provide matching funds for at least 25 percent of the remaining value, or the farmer can donate that portion of the value of the easement. The state grant cannot exceed $1 million per agricultural easement.
Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund ($175 million)
The Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund ($175 million) supports the cleanup of polluted properties so that they can be restored to productive uses. Special emphasis was given to projects that were used for a combination of industrial, commercial or residential uses after they are cleaned up. This mix-use may include the incorporation of a park or natural area. Factors that were considered during evaluation of applications include:
- The potential economic benefit of the project;
- The potential environmental improvement that will result from the project;
- The potential benefit to low-income and minority communities that will result from the project;
- The amount and nature of investment the applicant is providing to the project;
- The funding priorities identified by local Public Works Integrating Committees.
Who Could Apply?
Local governments, port authorities, conservancy districts, non-profit organizations, and for-profit entities may apply for funding from the brownfields portion of the Clean Ohio Fund. A conservancy district, non-profit or forprofit applicant must apply in cooperation with a local government or port authority. Applicants from throughout Ohio can apply for funds to acquire and clean up a brownfield, demolish existing buildings, upgrade infrastructure, and redevelop the property. In addition, 20 percent annually of the allocation for brownfield revitalization may be available as grants to economically disadvantaged areas to perform “site assessments,” an evaluation of a property to confirm the extent to which it is contaminated. These funds can also be used to support time-critical redevelopment projects in economically disadvantaged areas, and to address contamination that threatens public health.
There was also $25 million set aside for economically disadvantaged areas to address sites that pose a public health threat because of contamination by petroleum or hazardous substances. In selecting sites for remediation of public health threats, consideration was given to:
- The environmental improvement that will result from the cleanup;
- The qualifications of the cleanup contractor;
- The applicant’s ability to gain access to the property to perform the cleanup.
Local governments and local political subdivisions can receive Clean Ohio Fund support to address threats to public health. Nonprofit and for-profit organizations can apply for funds in cooperation with a local government or local political subdivision. |