Ohio Job Ready Sites (JRS)

Overview:

The Ohio Job Ready Sites Program, authorized by Ohios voters under Issue 1 in 2005, was created to bolster the states inventory of available facility locations served by utility and transportation infrastructure. Sites improved under the program are kept ready for future business prospects seeking locations for new or expanded operations. The State will sell $150 million in bonds during a seven-year period to fund the availability of the Ohio Job Ready Sites Program grant awards.

Program Goals:

Bolster Ohios current inventory of sites available for future development
Promote reinvestment and reuse of property
Leverage the State and local communities previous investment in infrastructure
Foster regional cooperation and economic growth strategies
Encourage sustainable development

Eligible Applicants:

Entities that can apply for Ohio Job Ready Sites Program assistance are political subdivisions, non-profit economic development organizations, and private, for-profit entities that obtain prior written approval from the Director of the Ohio Department of Development to submit application materials.

Eligible Project Costs:

Acquisition of land and buildings
Building construction
Renovation
Remediation of environmentally contaminated property
Infrastructure improvements, including the following:
Demolition of buildings and other structures
Installation or relocation of water, storm water and sanitary sewer lines, water and waste water treatment facilities,pump stations, water storage mechanisms, and other similar equipment or facilities
Construction of roads, bridges, traffic control devices, parking lots, and facilities
Construction of utility infrastructure such as natural gas, electric, and telecommunications
Improvement to rail access
Profession service fees such as engineering and architecture (not to exceed 10 percent of the grant amount)

Obtaining Funds:

Grants are awarded to applicants through both a competitive application process and via direct application to the Director of the Ohio Department of Development. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply under the competitive application process. Under the competitive application process, an applicant submits materials describing site ownership, layout, and the proposed plan for improvements. Applications are first evaluated by the States District Public Works Integrating Committees. The District Public Work Integrating Committees then forward the applications to the Ohio Department of Development for review. Ohio Department of Development convenes a review committee of agency staff, subject matter experts, and site selection/engineering consultants to evaluate each application and conduct site visits, selecting those projects best positioned to achieve the program's goals. The Directors discretionary allocation process makes funds available to improve sites for speedy development by identified large-scale end users which intend to occupy the properties.

Site Certification:

Eligible site certification categories include:
Manufacturing
Mega Manufacturing
Smart Office
Technical Center/Research Laboratory
Existing Industrial Building

'Certification' is the process by which a third-party site selection and/or engineering consulting firm hired specifically by the Ohio Department of Development verifies improvements at the eligible project site have been completed and that permitting and clearances have been obtained. The grantee must ensure at the time of certification that all site improvements have been performed and satisfactorily completed, to the levels committed, within the time specified under the grant agreement for the Ohio Job Ready Sites Program. Sites will be guided to complete the steps toward certification using a 'Due Diligence Checklist.' A 'Due Diligence Checklist' will be provided from the site selection and/or engineering consulting firm. To obtain certification of the eligible project, an application for certification must be submitted in a format as required by ODOD.

Last updated February 2, 2010