April 21, 2026, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine:
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik today announced $7.3 million in grants to help 32 counties tear down unsafe, blighted buildings and prepare those sites for new opportunities.
Today’s announcement marks the first batch of projects announced through the latest round of the Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program. Governor DeWine created the program in partnership with the Ohio General Assembly in 2021 to make room for new economic development by razing dilapidated commercial and residential buildings and revitalizing surrounding properties throughout the state.
“For the last five years, the Demolition and Site Revitalization Program has been a powerful tool for communities working to turn blight into potential,” said Governor DeWine. “Each demolition clears the way for something better — whether that’s new housing, new businesses, or new opportunities that strengthen neighborhoods and improve quality of life.”
The Demolition and Site Revitalization Program is funded as part of Ohio’s biennium budget bill with $21.5 million per fiscal year. Approximately $230,000 in grants is reserved for each of Ohio’s 88 counties. Lead entities for each grant award have until May 1, 2026, to identify all project sites for their awards.
To date, the program has invested more than $310 million to support nearly 6,200 demolition projects across every county in the state.
“Sometimes the best way to move a community forward is by clearing away what’s holding it back,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Department of Development. “By partnering with local leaders to remove unsafe and vacant structures, we’re helping neighborhoods make way for future investment.”
The Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program is part of Governor DeWine’s Ohio BUILDS Initiative, which focuses on supporting targeted solutions that impact quality of life, such as water infrastructure improvements, broadband expansion, brownfield redevelopment, the demolition of blighted buildings, and more.
