ohiobrownfieldbrpgrantsredevelopment

Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program - FY2026 Grant Round Now Open

The Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) has released guidelines for the FY2026 Brownfield Remediation Program (BRP) grant round, with $88 million available for brownfield cleanup projects across the state. This round comes with significant structural changes from previous years that affect who can apply and how awards are made.

What Changed

The FY2026-2027 state budget (HB96, signed by Governor DeWine on June 30, 2025) allocated $200 million to the BRP over two fiscal years - $100 million per year. But the bigger story is the process changes.

Merit-based awards replace first-come, first-served. In previous rounds, the application portal would open and funds were awarded in the order applications were received. The final FY2025 round was fully encumbered in under two and a half hours. The new process evaluates projects based on economic merit, shovel-readiness, and regional impact.

Expanded eligible Lead Entities. Previously, applications had to come through county land banks or entities designated by county commissioners. The FY2026 guidelines expand eligibility to counties, townships, municipal corporations, port authorities, conservancy districts, park districts, and for-profit organizations.

Regional distribution requirement. ODOD must ensure projects are awarded across different regions of the state, addressing concerns that previous rounds were heavily concentrated in a few urban counties.

Funding Structure

For FY2026, the $88 million available breaks down as follows:

  • $1 million reserved for applicants in each of Ohio’s 88 counties
  • County-reserved funds not obligated by June 30, 2026 become available statewide in the FY2027 round
  • Approximately $109 million expected for FY2027, with applications anticipated to open in spring 2026

What’s Eligible

Properties must meet the statutory definition of a brownfield - abandoned, idled, or under-used with known or potential contamination at the subsurface level. Eligible costs include environmental assessment, remediation, asbestos abatement, demolition necessary for remediation access, and minimum infrastructure upgrades.

All applicants must specify which regulatory cleanup program the project will comply with - the Voluntary Action Program (VAP), BUSTR, or RCRA.

What This Means for Consultants

If you work on brownfield projects in Ohio, three things matter:

First, the shift to merit-based awards means the quality of your application matters more than your internet connection speed on opening day. Projects that demonstrate shovel-readiness, completed planning, secured site control, and matched financing will score higher.

Second, the expanded Lead Entity eligibility means your clients may be able to apply directly rather than going through a land bank. For-profit entities are now eligible as Lead Entities, which opens the door for developers to participate more directly.

Third, the $1 million per county reservation means smaller counties that historically did not compete for BRP funds now have dedicated funding. If you work in rural Ohio, this is an opportunity that did not exist in previous rounds.

Looking Ahead: HB93

Separately from the budget-funded BRP, House Bill 93 proposes establishing permanent dedicated funding for brownfield remediation through redirected liquor franchise revenue. HB93 would provide $50-100 million annually on an ongoing basis rather than relying on one-time legislative appropriations each biennium. As of early 2026, HB93 is awaiting committee assignment in the Ohio House.

For the full breakdown of Ohio’s brownfield programs, including the BRP, Targeted Brownfield Assessments, and the Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser Defense, see our Ohio Brownfield Programs Overview.