State Controlling Board Approves $100,000 Grant for Girard Gas Station Cleanup

Kim Calvert.
Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber.

The State of Ohio Controlling Board approved at its meeting today a Fast Track Abandoned Gas Station Grant of up to $100,000 to fund the cleanup of an abandoned gas station site on S. State Street in Girard. The former McQuaids station, which has been vacant, boarded and non-operational for several years, was acquired by the Trumbull County Treasurer through foreclosure last year.

In partnership with the Trumbull County Treasurer’s Office, Trumbull County Land Bank and City of Girard, the Regional Chamber—as part of its ongoing 422 Corridor Redevelopment efforts—coordinated efforts to submit an application for the site to the Ohio Development Services Agency’s Abandoned Gas Station Grant Program. Prior to the application for the grant, the site had received funding from the Ohio EPA’s Targeted Brownfields Assessment program to conduct phase I & II assessments, making it eligible to receive cleanup funds from ODSA.

“We are ecstatic that the State of Ohio has approved our application and look forward to the next steps in scheduling tank removal, demolition and cleanup activities at the site. These improvements will greatly impact the gateway to downtown Girard, and we’re grateful for the work and support of our partners in Trumbull County through this yearlong process,” said Lauren Johnson, manager of the 422 Project and Mahoning County Business Development at the Chamber.

She added that the abandoned gas station grant is the first to be awarded in the Valley, and the potential to support additional projects in other communities is likely.

Sam Lamancusa, Trumbull County Land Bank president, said, “Teamwork pays off; we were successful because of the dedicated work put forth by this group. Thanks to the efforts of the Regional Chamber, Land Bank staff, City of Girard and the County Prosecutor’s and Treasurer’s offices, we were able to put together a successful, first-of-its-kind grant application. I look forward to many more such projects.”

City of Girard Mayor James Melfi echoed Johnson’s and Lamancusa’s sentiments, noting that the cleanup of the station will only enhance other improvements made along the 422 corridor, and appreciated that the project will occur without cost to the City.