Land bank getting stronger

SANDUSKY — The Erie County Land Reutilization Corp., better known as the land bank, will begin utilizing a new funding source in the second half of 2022. In the fall of 2021 the Erie County commissioners, upon the recommendation of the Erie County treasurer, approved a resolution granting the land bank 5% of the delinquent tax and assessment collection (DTAC) funds be allocated to the land bank. For the first half of this tax year, that allocation totaled $195,000. In an effort to advance the mission of the land bank, two new programs have been rolled out effective immediately: • The first program is a reimbursement program designed to help political subdivisions and other units of government pay for the cost of abating blighted properties in their community. These units of government can apply to have all pre-demolition costs, including asbestos surveys and environmental studies; demolition costs, including asbestos remediation; and post-demolition costs, including re-seeding and grading the property, covered by the funds in this program. • The second program is a grant program designed for nonprofits, businesses and private citizens. This program will allow eligible applicants to contract the land bank for the purpose of removing blighted structures with no cost to the applicant. This new funding source will add a stabilizing force to the land bank that has not been there in past years. We are excited to find new ways to help communities in all corners of Erie County create safer and more desirable neighborhoods through the removal of blighted and abandoned structures. Guidelines for both programs can be found on the land bank's website, eriecounty.oh.gov and searching for "land bank," and can be acquired by contacting 419-627-7703 or emailing alexj@eriecounty.oh.gov.