DILAPIDATED — A photo provided by the Jefferson County Port Authority shows one of the three buildings at the former Weirton Steel Steubenville works to be cleared of asbestos and demolished through Ohio Department of Development Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program grant funding. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — Another $700,000 in brownfield remediation grant dollars was awarded to the Jefferson County Port Authority, bringing its total grant award to $1 million during the last two weeks for redevelopment work in the county.

Announced Wednesday, the latest grants will contribute toward site cleanups at the former W.H. Sammis Power Plant and Weirton Steel Steubenville works. The awards are part of $86.1 million in allocations from the state, intended to clean and redevelop 81 hazardous brownfield sites — former commercial or industrial sites potentially afflicted by pre-existing environmental impacts — in 46 Ohio counties.

Funding comes through the Ohio Department of Development’s Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program, a product of Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted’s 2021 administration, according to a release from the Ohio Governor’s Office. The program is part of DeWine’s Ohio BUILDS Initiative, which “focuses on supporting targeted solutions that impact quality of life, such as water infrastructure improvements, broadband expansion, brownfield redevelopment and the demolition of blighted buildings.”

“Funds … will help assess and clean up industrial, commercial, and institutional brownfield sites that are abandoned, idled or underutilized due to a known or potential release of hazardous substances or petroleum,” the release states. “Following site remediation, properties can be redeveloped to revitalize neighborhoods and attract new economic development.”

Wednesday’s announcement included about $82.1 million for 65 cleanup/remediation projects, as well as $4 million for 16 site assessment projects. To date, the brownfield program has awarded $636 million to support 626 projects in 86 counties.

The Ohio General Assembly funds the brownfield program through its current operating budget. All 88 Ohio counties could receive at least $1 million in funding, with additional funds being awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

The port authority capitalized on its $1 million set-aside, submitting four properties to the fiscal year 2024 brownfield program on April 1: Properties owned by Energy Transition and Environmental Management LLC, Zimnox Coal, Tidewater Honey Creek and JSW Steel USA Ohio.

Although additional information couldn’t be provided by a later deadline for Zimnox Coal, the other three projects were accepted. On Nov. 20, the port authority received $300,000 for a phase II site assessment at JSW’s South Yard, and Wednesday brought remaining funding for ETEM and Tidewater.

“This is a testament to the port authority, its board of directors and our stakeholders in the area understanding the need to apply for funding for brownfield assessment and subsequent remediation, the purpose for which is bring brownfield properties back into use,” port authority Executive director Robert Naylor said Wednesday. “The process takes time, but it’s a process that you need to stick with so you can see the subsequent redevelopment of formerly shuttered sites which may have legacy environmental contamination.”

Of the latest award, $422,500 will help offset costs associated with asbestos abatement at the former Sammis Power Plant.

Naylor explained that grant funds will reimburse ETEM, the property’s current owner, for clean-up work it has done or will do, according to grant requirements. Specifically, the clean-up project involves removing asbestos-containing materials from the former plant’s coal conveyor system and associated structures.

Shuttered in 2023, the former coal-burning plant is undergoing a scheduled demolition to repurpose the site. The Ohio Governor’s Office release notes that the site’s “prime location with river and rail access positions it as a significant opportunity for energy-related projects.”

Another $277,500 will finance asbestos abatement and demolition at the former Weirton Steel footprint in South Steubenville.

The property is owned by Tidewater Honey Creek, a limited liability company formed by Tidewater Logistics, which operates a nearby multi-modal facility. At 7.8 acres, the property contains three dilapidated structures — a laboratory, clock tower and administrative building — that will be cleared of asbestos and demolished, in preparation for commercial redevelopment.

Tidewater Logistics has increased its workforce and is seeking to expand, Naylor said. Once abated, the site can be sold or leased to a third party for development and job creation, or Tidewater can choose to occupy it and grow.

The structures in question are located on a defined voluntary action program property. The VAP in Ohio allows entities to investigate environmental contamination, remediate what’s necessary and receive a legal release from the state. Having received a fiscal year 2022 brownfield assessment grant for the site, the port authority is seeking a covenant not to sue.

Both the 2022 and 2024 brownfield projects will occur simultaneously, Naylor said, adding that Tidewater has agreed to contribute its own capital to the demolition effort in the event that additional funds are needed.

As of Wednesday’s grant award, the port authority has received nearly $3 million in brownfield remediation grant funds during the last two years. That includes the 2024 and 2022 brownfield grants, the latter of which amounted to $1.25 million; a $500,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Community-wide Assessment Grant and an Ohio EPA Market Development Grant worth just under $200,000 for Brixx Technology LLC.

Naylor said the port authority is now exploring possible grant applications for an ODOD matching grant program, which could offer up to 25 percent funding for projects.