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WARREN -- Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership has received $1.8 million from the Ohio Department of Development for lead abatement.
Trumbull County's entire allocation went to TNP as the administrator of the grant and its share is just a portion of the $150 million allocated through House Bill 45, which was signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine on Jan. 6, 2023. The state amount is to be used in coordination with the Ohio Department of Health using American Rescue Plan funding, according to a news release from DeWine's office.
Approximately $95 million of the total is being split among all 88 counties, with each county receiving at least $200,000. The lowest dollar amount is going to nine counties.
Mahoning County received $2.7 million and Columbiana County received $897,000, according to the Ohio Department of Development's website. The largest allocation went to Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) at $13.5 million, followed by Franklin County (Columbus) and Hamilton County (Cincinnati) at approximately $7 million each.
"Every Ohioan deserves the right to live in a home free from the silent threat of toxic lead," DeWine said. "Behind every instance of lead exposure is a face, a family, and a future put at risk."
"This grant will allow us to mitigate those risks for a great number of properties," said Mikenna McClurg, TNP housing coordinator and point of contact for the program.
McClurg also noted that there is a high need for lead abatement contractors or people who have their EPA Renovation, Repair and Paint certificate to perform this work. Contractors interested in becoming lead certified should reach out to TNP.
Funds can be used for lead-safe building certification, screening and testing for lead poisoning, education and outreach and early intervention for children and families impacted by lead.
The remaining funding will be used by the Ohio Department of Development for workforce development, recruitment and retention of lead contractors, and lead safe renovations such as window and door replacement in single-family homes, congregate care shelters and childcare facilities constructed before 1978.
"In 2023, lead exposure is an all-too-preventable problem," DeWine said. "It is our responsibility to ensure that all Ohioans -- young and old -- feel safe and healthy in their own homes."
Approximately $100 million will go toward lead prevention and mitigation such as lead-safe building certification, screening and testing for lead poisoning, education and outreach and early intervention for children and families impacted by lead.
"Through this funding, we are arming community leaders with the resources to help their residents make much-needed repairs and remove a catastrophic health hazard from the places they call home," Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said.
"Thanks to Gov. DeWine and Lt. Gov. Husted, we're making another important investment in our most precious commodity -- our children," Lydia Mihalik, director of the Department of Development, said. "We're excited to work with our local partners in the coming months to bring this funding to all 88 counties and start making lead contamination a thing of the past."
Lead poisoning is most commonly caused by lead-based paint, which produces chips and dust when deteriorating. While lead poisoning can affect individuals of all ages, children are at the greatest risk. Children's bodies are more susceptible to the harmful effects of lead and are less able to detoxify their bodies of the harmful substance. Long-term exposure to lead can impact physical and mental health, as well as the ability to learn and earn an income.
Since taking office in 2019, DeWine has been an unwavering leader in his work to address the consequences of lead poisoning and increase lead abatement in Ohio homes. Working with the legislature, he has expanded early intervention services to include children with elevated blood lead levels. He also formed a Lead Advisory Committee to help spearhead the state's efforts to remediate lead contamination and offered more than $44 million in grants for the identification and elimination of lead paint in Ohio homes.
As part of the H2Ohio initiative, Ohio EPA has awarded nearly $8 million to remove and replace lead service lines and for lead line identification and mapping assistance. This total also includes $1.25 million in H2Ohio funding to support lead service line replacement projects at childcare facilities in Cincinnati and Cleveland.