Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted on Tuesday announced that 2,277 blighted and vacant structures in 42 counties — including 596 projects in Mahoning County — will be demolished to pave the way for economic development and housing opportunities.

The Mahoning County Land Reutilization Corp. will demolish the lion’s share — 473 vacant, badly blighted residential properties — throughout Youngstown to stabilize the housing market and revitalize neighborhoods.

Once demolished, these lots will transition to greenspaces with plans to develop the properties for housing, commercial and industrial use.

More than 100 structures also are targeted in Campbell, according to the state.

The buildings will be razed as part of the Ohio Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program. The DeWine-Husted administration created the program to help local communities demolish dilapidated commercial and residential buildings and revitalize surrounding properties to attract investments, businesses and jobs.

State Rep. Al Cutrona, R-Canfield, said he supports $6.86 million in funding coming to Mahoning County through the program. Mahoning County has received the funding for 596 various projects, including those in Youngstown and Campbell.

“We’re looking to invest and revitalize many parts of the Mahoning Valley, creating jobs and boosting our economic opportunities across the region,” Cutrona said. “I’m proud to have supported this initiative and look forward to the development of these projects.”

Other Mahoning County communities with lesser amounts of demolitions slated are Austintown, Beaver, Boardman, Coitsville, Poland Township, Sebring and Smith, according to the state.

Thirteen counties alos will receive additional program funding totaling $35.3 million to cover expenses in excess of the initial set-aside grants.

No Trumbull County projects are included on the latest list or on the 825 demolition projects announced in October. Details on demolition projects in additional counties will be provided in the coming weeks. But in July, the Trumbull County Land Reutilization Corp. did get $500,000 initial funding from the Demolition and Site Revitalization Program, according to the Ohio Department of Development.

“We’re not just tearing down dilapidated buildings, we’re helping to make communities across the state better places to start a business, raise a family, and build a bright future,” DeWine said .

In total, the Ohio Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program will award nearly $150 million in grants for projects across the state.

The grants are funded as part of the 2021-22 state biennium budget bill, House Bill 110, which requires grants to be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Looking at the plans that some of our communities have for these sites, it’s clear there are numerous opportunities for growth,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “Removing this blight has the potential to increase property values and revitalize local housing markets in addition to removing safety hazards and opening doors for more businesses to set up shop throughout the state.”

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