Port Authority supports Clean Ohio ballot issue

The Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority board of directors has voted unanimously to support the renewal of the Clean Ohio Fund. The $400 million bond measure, which is part of Governor Ted Strickland's $1.6 billion economic stimulus package, was approved for the November 4 ballot by the Ohio Senate on May 28. The Clean Ohio Fund has allowed the Port Authority to assist communities and developers in the remediation of eight local sites, which are in various stages of redevelopment.

According to the Economics Center for Education and Research at the University of Cincinnati, at full development these eight sites will produce and annual economic impact of $1.35 billion from 13,793 jobs.

"Brownfield cleanup and redevelopment is part of our mission," says Christine Russell, director of brownfield development for the Port Authority.  "Due in no small part to our past active involvement with the Clean Ohio Program, we have developed the in-house expertise to return contaminated sites to productive use and we look forward to continuing to assist local communities and developers in addressing the challenges that are presented in the cleanup and redevelopment of environmentally contaminated sites."

Since its approval by voters in November 2000, the Clean Ohio Fund has funded over 700 projects, cleaning up 140 polluted sites, preserving over 46,000 acres of natural areas and farmland, and creating more than 216 miles of recreational trails.

Cincinnati City Council passed a resolution in support of the measure earlier this month.

Writer: Kevin LeMaster
Source: Media release