MEDINA, Ohio – Council has given approval for the city to apply for multiple grants to help fund different projects within Medina including a grant that would fund environmental assessments at the former Sunoco site at 426 West Liberty Street.
Economic Development Director Kimberly Marshall said that earlier this year the city had applied for funding through the Ohio Department of Development Brownfield Assessment Program. She said this grant program is very competitive and added the city has still not received word if they will be awarded the grant. So council has currently authorized the city to apply for an Ohio EPA Targeted Brownfield Assessment grant.
“I’m calling this application for the grant our Plan B,” she said. “If this grant is approved, the entire cost of the environmental assessment will be picked up by the state of Ohio.”
Marshall has said that the city must first determine if any cleanup is required at the site before they can sell, donate or develop the land.
Council also approved the application of an Ohio Cyber Security Grant to assist with the purchase of security software services to boost preparedness and resilience of cybersecurity attacks.
“This is a $20,000 grant and is a one-time funding that would allow us to get some cybersecurity software and penetration testing in place for the city,” said Sgt. Darin Zaremba.
Council also approved a grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Program. This $27,000 grant would cover cancer screenings for employees of the police department.
