Clermont County has landed a hefty sum from the Ohio Department of Development, securing over $4.4 million to be channeled into demolishing blighted buildings across various localities. The announcement, which marks a notable investment in the county's infrastructure and real estate potential, was made public as the most significant financial boost the Clermont County Land Bank has seen since its inception in 2022. "This is a significant award for us," Desmond Maaytah, Director of the Clermont Land Bank, shared in a report by Clermont County's official website.
The funds will be distributed across various projects, including transforming the sizable International Paper site into premium residential units and several other community-beneficial redevelopments. The Land Bank's partnership with local stakeholders highlights the collaborative effort to re-energize areas and invite future private investment. Noteworthy among the outlined projects is the demolition of the former Williamsburg Chair Factory, set at an estimated cost of $308,009, and the removal of the old IGA grocery store in Owensville, which will clear the path for commercial and potentially residential development at an estimated demolition cost of $117,572.
These revitalization projects are scheduled to kick off in December and aim for completion by the end of 2025. "These demolition projects will pave the way for future private investment and redevelopment in critical locations," according to the Clermont County, Maaytah emphasized, pointing particularly to the high-profile International Paper Complex in Loveland. The Clermont County Land Bank, the key grant applicant on behalf of the county, has committed a local match of $110,000 to cement the project's impact and success further.
The Clermont County site reports that Governor Mike DeWine's recent roundup of funding announcements saw more than $52 million allocated towards similar initiatives across Ohio from programs targeting brownfield remediation and building demolition. Serving to curtail blight and elevate the living standards within communities, the Land Bank, since its operation began last year, has razed nearly 30 decrepit properties and repurposed them in ways that contribute positively to the regional landscape. The Land Bank's Board of Directors comprises figures such as County Treasurer Jeannie Zurmehly as chairperson, with support from notable names like Commissioner David Painter and Jeff Baumgarth.
