The State of Ohio awarded a grant totaling $82,464 to the Scioto County Land Reutilization Corporation.
The money will be used to pay for an environmental checkup at the 97-year-old County Courthouse. The county will use the money to assess the building for asbestos, lead paint, and other environmental hazards.
These studies are intended to identify problems and guide future plans. According to the state’s release, they are also intended to prepare the courthouse for potential redevelopment.
The county hasn’t announced any plans for the historic building, so it’s unknown if the plan is to leave it behind like the Portsmouth City Building in favor of more modern quarters, perhaps in Downtown Portsmouth.
The money was part of $50 million in grants awarded to communities across the state for brownfield remediation and building demolition. According to Lt. Governor Jon Husted, “By removing the physical remnants of decline, these projects make room for growth, revitalizing neighborhoods and attracting investment that boosts local economies.”
