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Derelict industrial property may be a gold mine waiting to be tapped. Youngstown officials say development of brownfield sites may be the least expensive and most expedient way to encourage industrial operations to locate in the Mahoning Valley.
On March 1, the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Youngstown State University Technology Development Corp. will jointly initiate the Office of Environmental Assistance to help companies overcome the environmental hurdles of developing brownfield sites, reports Reid Dulburger, chamber senior vice president for economic development.
In late winter, the chamber will receive a grant for $87,750 for its Brownfield Site Redevelopment Project, to be operated from the newly formed office. The grant will be used for the 18-month start-up of the Office of Environmental Assistance, says Laura Lyden, manager of environmental technology at YSU-TDC. The project and office should be self-sustaining after the grant elapses, she adds.
"The grant will enable us to buy some resources," Lyden explains. "Computer databases containing extensive environmental regulation information will be purchased. All information concerning potential environmental hazards will be entered into these databases. We will also establish a Geographic Information System database of our...