OhioSE grants $178K for site development

OhioSE has awarded $178,055 in grants in 2025 to support the development of sites across the region through its Site Readiness Program.

The OhioSE Site Readiness Program is a matching grant program designed to help prepare high-value industrial sites for development within the Southeast Ohio region. The focus of the program is documentation of current site conditions and potential for future development of the property. Through the program local economic development organizations use the funds to complete due-diligence studies and to procure site concept plans, preliminary engineering and other site documentation.

The 2025 OhioSE grants are supporting studies or plans for 15 sites in nine OhioSE counties. Examples of work supported through the program include phase one environmental site assessments in Athens and Ross counties; site concept layouts in Gallia, Monroe and Washington counties; and traffic studies for sites in Ross and Muskingum counties.

“Developing sites ready for industrial projects is a costly and time-intensive process,” said Taylor Stepp, director of economic development at the center for entrepreneurship at the University of Rio Grande. “The OhioSE Site Readiness Program has allowed Gallia County to maximize local dollars to help the community develop and market properties.”

This work completed through the program is an important first step in understanding whether a site is ready for development and helps the owner understand any gaps for growth at the property. The information helps position the site for additional grant opportunities through other programs that can help address shortcomings of a site.

The data gathered from the studies and plans also is used to better respond to requests for information by site selectors looking for a location for a new facility. Ultimately, the program helps to increase the region’s inventory of ready, available sites that can accommodate projects that will bring new jobs to a community.

Since the program began in 2016, OhioSE has awarded 137 grants for a total of $1,174,253 committed funds. Sites that have been supported by the program that now have end users include the following:

—Delano Industrial, Ross County, survey and preliminary engineering, CSM Truck, 30 jobs.

—Leesburg Industrial Park, Highland County, site development plan, Nelson Enterprises.

—Conesville Industrial Park, Coshocton County, phase one ESA, Aligned Data Center.

—Logan Hocking Commerce Park, Hocking County, AVT Beckett Elevators USA Inc., 20 jobs.

—National Road Business Park, Muskingum County, wetlands delineation, phase one archaeological survey, preliminary engineering, site development plans, traffic study, Holder Construction, 60 jobs.

—Greater Portsmouth Regional Airport, Scioto County, phase one ESA, hydrology study, Evans Food Group, 40 jobs.

—Southern Ohio Industrial Lawrence County, sewer extension plans, Engineered Profiles, 55 jobs.

Due-diligence studies supported throughout the years include phase one ESA, wetland delineation, threatened and endangered species review, cultural resource studies, and geotechnical borings. Site plans include preliminary engineering plans, preliminary utility service plans, site layout and grading plans.

“The OhioSE Site Readiness Program helped us complete environmental documentation necessary to access nearly $1 million in grant funds through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ AMLER Program,” said Bill Arnett, executive director of the Cambridge-Guernsey County CIC. “The funds will prepare the mine-impacted site for new industrial development, new investment and job creation.”

The OhioSE Site Readiness Program consists of two types of grants, and applications are coordinated through each county’s local economic development organization. The Special Purpose Grant has a 1:1 cost-share ratio with OhioSE contributing $1 for every $1 provided by the applicant. The Special Purpose Grant can be applied for at any time throughout the year. The Site Readiness Grant has a 2:1 ratio with OhioSE contributing $2 for every $1 local match.

“Since 2016 the Site Readiness Program has assisted our local partners in the process of mitigating risk to development in our communities that have directly resulted in project wins and new jobs created in our region,” said Matt Abbott, president and CEO of OhioSE. “We will continue to offer this program with a proven return on investment locally and hope to amplify our efforts through philanthropic means to broaden our reach into other development needs for our region.”

This 2026 spring round for applications opened Feb. 13. To learn more, visit www.ohiose.com or email project assistant Stacey Saunders at stacey@ohiose.com.