Ohio Department of Development: $15.2 million a year in roadwork grants to support local economic projects; brownfield funds not proposed this biennium

Director Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development, told the Ohio House Transportation Committee that the department administers a roadwork development grant program funded in the transportation budget at $15.2 million per year to help local jurisdictions pay for infrastructure tied to business expansions.

The program, Mihalik said, covers public roadway work and related right-of-way infrastructure (including water and sewer utilities) that supports private business expansions or relocations. She told the committee each grant is approved by the Controlling Board and that the department expects to use the full appropriation once again this biennium.

Mihalik said the transportation budget funds the program at $15,200,000 in each year of the biennium. For fiscal year 2025 she said $3,900,000 has already been committed and another eight projects in the pipeline total nearly $5,700,000, and that the department expects to use the full allocation. She described the grants as “a very critical piece of the strategy” for attracting and retaining jobs and supporting local construction employment.

Mihalik gave two examples from her written testimony: a $400,000 roadwork development grant to Yarter Manufacturing in Lucas County, which she said set the stage for 26 planned new jobs and the retention of 62; and a $2.2 million award to the Port Authority of Allen County to construct a single-lane roundabout tied to a Procter & Gamble expansion she said will bring 135 new jobs.

On brownfields, Vice Chair Daniels asked about a previously cited $350 million figure. Mihalik said the $350 million amount was included in a prior budget and is not part of the department’s request for the current biennium. She told members the department is still administering grants awarded from that earlier allocation and that applicants have included port authorities, land banks, local governments and private developers. Mihalik said the department has spent about $700 million over the last four years on brownfield cleanup projects and that the program is intended to make vacant, formerly contaminated sites available for redevelopment when no responsible party remains.

Committee members asked for details the director did not have at the podium. Mihalik offered to provide counts and other specifics after the hearing; she told the committee that while she could provide the total number of applications later, “the majority of the projects that are brought to us, we do end up funding.” On the Ohio Nuclear Development Authority the director said the authority was created in an earlier budget but not funded; the commission has been convening subject-matter experts but has no standalone operating budget in this biennium.

Mihalik concluded by saying the department’s role is to support local economic development partners, including JobsOhio and ODOT, so communities can win and retain private investment. She offered follow-up information at members’ requests.

The committee chair also reminded members that supporting documents and the “blue books” are available on the committee site and encouraged members of the public to sign up for distribution via ohiohouse.gov to track committee work.