The Muskingum County Landbank Discusses State Funding for Ongoing Initiatives

ZANESVILLE, OH – As a step toward community development, the Muskingum County Land Reutilization Corporation held a meeting on Thursday morning.

The focus of the meeting was to discuss their ongoing efforts to secure state funding, with the goal of demolishing over 70 properties and obtaining funding for up to six properties under the Brownfield program.

“We’re in the process of submitting applications to the state for Brownfield funding as well as state demolition moneys. Right now, my board just authorized me today to go after 79 different properties for demolition, and possibly up to six for Brownfield funding. The demolition funding opened up this week, Brownfield funding has not opened up yet, we’re trying to get that situated, ” Executive Director, Andy Roberts said.

The Land Reutilization Corporation’s mission is to breathe new life into blighted properties, eliminate hazards, and revitalize neighborhoods.

“We’re going after several different sites, looking at various avenues. We’re trying to come up with match money to. Our total ask on Brownfield is 19 and a half million. Which we would have to come up with about right under four million in match funding to be able to complete all these projects,” Roberts said.

They also plan to start demolition on several structures in Frazeysburg within the next two months.