LIMA — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is awarding $500,000 to the city of Lima for brownfield revitalization projects in the city. Brownfield projects involve working with properties that may contain hazardous substances, often involving buildings that have fallen into disrepair and need to either be demolished or rehabilitated.
According to a release from the office of Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, the money will be used to conduct 18 Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments, as well as site inventory, the development of four cleanup plans, two reuse assessments and a brownfields revitalization plan.
“The U.S. EPA Citywide Brownfield Assessment grant is a catalyst for development and growth in our community,” Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith said in a statement shared by Brown’s office. “EPA-funded assessments will increase the value of blighted properties and put our community in a better position to pursue developers so we can repurpose these assets.”
According to Public Information Officer Jessica Begonia, the city is in the planning stages for utilizing the grants as officials assess potential properties throughout the city where this could be used.
“We should have the sites selected in the coming weeks,” she said. “The assessments will then be completed between Oct. 1, 2023 and Sept. 30, 2027.”
