News

The Clinton County Port Authority and the Clinton County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) are seeking property owners interested in participating in the next rounds of funding through both the Ohio Brownfield Remediation and the Ohio Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Programs.

Ohio’s Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Operating Budget, signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine on July 1, 2025, includes $200 million in new funding for brownfield remediation and $43 million in new funding for building demolition programs for the next two years. The bill also included a variety of changes to the program structures meant to make the funding more competitive. While the Ohio Department of Development is not anticipated to release Program Policies and Procedures until later this fall, the Port Authority and CCRPC want to begin preparing competitive applications early.

“These Brownfield and Demolition dollars from the State give us a rare chance to put long-stalled properties back to productive use, potentially as new job sites or homes,” said Josh Roth, Economic Development Director. “If you’ve ever wondered ‘will this property ever get cleaned up?’, the answer may be yes. Interested property owners are encouraged to reach out. The Port Authority will help you sort out eligibility, build a competitive application, and move good projects forward for Clinton County.”

Brownfields are properties that have been previously developed and may be contaminated with materials such as asbestos or petroleum. Both Assessment and Clean-up grants are available. Properties eligible for demolition funding include residential, commercial, or industrial and, in the past, have included interior demolitions or foundation removals.

Interested property owners are encouraged to indicate their interest by filling out a pre-application that can be online at https://bit.ly/PropertyOwnerInterest. Alternatively, property owners can contact Roth directly at (937) 566-1188 or jroth@ccportauthority.com.

The Clinton County Workforce Collaborative held its monthly meeting on Thursday, September 18, at the Southern Ohio Educational Service Center, gathering employers, educators, and community partners to discuss new initiatives aimed at building and sustaining a strong workforce for the county.

A key highlight of the meeting was the announcement of the Collaborative’s new internship program, launched in partnership with OhioMeansJobs Clinton County and designed to provide local youth and young adults with hands-on career experience while supporting the talent needs of area employers.

The internship program connects high school students with businesses across Clinton County, giving them the opportunity to explore career pathways, gain valuable skills, and receive mentorship from industry professionals. In addition to on-the-job training, interns will have access to career readiness workshops, job search support, developing soft skills, and resources through OhioMeansJobs.

“This initiative is about more than just internships—it’s about building bridges between our youth and the businesses that need their skills and talent,” said Conner Wyatt, Clinton County Workforce Development Director. “By investing in our young people today, we’re strengthening the workforce pipeline for the future of Clinton County.”

Attendees also heard firsthand from a local Wilmington High School student, Makenna Dorsch, who participated in a summer internship through the program. She shared how the experience helped her build confidence and gain practical skills: “The internship experience was amazing. I really recommend it to other fellow students and hope to work with them again in the future. They are here to help students in any way they can and always say that the ‘sky’s the limit’ with the program, and it really is,” she told the group.

The program is open to eligible Clinton County high school students through OhioMeansJobs’ Comprehensive Case Management and Employment Program, as well as through partnerships with local schools and community organizations. Interns will receive opportunities while contributing to businesses that play a vital role in the county’s economic growth.

For more information about the internship program, contact Conner Wyatt (cwyatt@soesc.org or 513/316-2176) or Amanda Haggerty with OhioMeansJobs Clinton County (amanda@wsu-inc.org or 937/382-7762 x 1153).

The meeting also included planning updates for the upcoming Clinton County Career Exploration Fair, scheduled for Wednesday, October 22, at Laurel Oaks Career Campus. Wilmington-Clinton County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dessie Rogers shared important deadlines for businesses to register, emphasizing the fair’s role in exposing students to a broad range of industries and career options across the region.

Additional updates included ongoing promotion of the Collaborative’s new website, ccwcohio.org, which serves as a central hub for workforce resources, event announcements, and connections between employers, educators, and job seekers.

The Clinton County Port Authority is seeking information from developers, investors, historic preservation consultants, and local residents regarding the future use and redevelopment of the historic Masonic Building, located at 28 West Main Street in Wilmington.

While the goal of this Request for Information (RFI) is to solicit information, capabilities, and redevelopment strategies from qualified firms and individuals that may be interested in responding to a future Request for Proposals, no formal qualifications are required to respond to this RFI.

“At this stage, creative thinking, community orientation, and feasibility are just as valued as technical expertise,” said Alex Beres, Executive Director of the Clinton County Port Authority. “A project like the Masonic Building will need tremendous partnership and strategic capital to become fully redeveloped, and because of that we want to hear from community members as well as interested individuals, prospective tenants, and investors.”

The Masonic Building, dedicated in 1913 for use by Masonic Lodge No. 52, has seen many changes in its history. Designed by Frank Packard and constructed for $40,000 ($1.2 million in 2025 dollars), the 21, 480 square foot building quickly became a hub for economic activity. Centrally located in the heart of downtown Wilmington, the building has been home to retail, restaurant, office, and art studio space. The Port Authority, through its DRIVE I, LLC subsidiary, acquired the building in October 2023. Additional information about the Wilmington DRIVE program can be found at https://www.chooseclintoncountyoh.org/doing-business/wilmington-drive. 

Experienced developers, investors, firms, and historic preservation consultants interested in submitting information can find the full RFI at https://bit.ly/28WMainRFILongForm. Local residents, investors, and businesses interested in submitting information, ideas, and interest can do so by completing the form at https://bit.ly/28WMainRFI or by emailing DRIVE.Wilmington.OH@gmail.com. RFI responses are due August 22, 2025.

Experienced developers, investors, firms, and historic preservation consultants interested in a site visit can schedule a walkthrough on August 1 or August 8, 2025, by contacting Tom Perry with CDC of Ohio at thomasjperry@att.net. An additional walkthrough for the general public will be held at 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and 12 noon to 1 p.m. on August 15, 2025. 

“Our hope is that the information we receive in response to this RFI will better inform the next steps and identify potential partners for the Masonic Building,” Beres added.

The City of Wilmington, in collaboration with the Clinton County Port Authority (Port Authority), has been awarded an additional $175,000 in funding from the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Jobs & Commerce Economic Development Grant Program to support Phase III of the Davids Drive reconstruction project.

This most recent grant award builds upon ongoing efforts to upgrade and modernize this critical industrial corridor that serves several major employers and manufacturers in both the City of Wilmington and Union Township. 

“Davids Drive is an important industrial corridor and connector for Wilmington,” said Wilmington Mayor Pat Haley. “This additional funding allows us to continue enhancing the infrastructure that supports our growing business community. I express my appreciation to the Port Authority for their ongoing partnership with my administration on the City’s initiatives.”

As part of the successful grant application, the Port Authority coordinated with the City of Wilmington and private employers along Davids Drive to document the number of jobs positively impacted by the roadway improvements. A recent and substantial private investment from Alkermes, despite the firm not being within the City’s boundaries, was a key component in demonstrating the project’s economic return and securing the award. The Jobs & Commerce Program exists to support infrastructure improvements that directly enhance job creation and private investment.

“This grant is another example of how we are working diligently to reduce the burden on local taxpayers by leveraging external resources,” said Wilmington City Auditor Mary Kay Vance. “Every dollar we secure from the state helps us stretch our local dollars further.”

The funding will support Phase III of the Davids Drive project, which will continue eastward improvements from Fife Avenue to Rombach Avenue. The enhancements will include full-depth pavement reconstruction, lane widening, drainage improvements, and upgraded traffic signage—continuing the transformation of the corridor into a more functional, safer, and business-ready roadway.

“The Port Authority’s mission is to serve as a vehicle for economic development and investment into Clinton County,” said Clinton County Port Authority Executive Director Alex Beres. “Public and private investment can, sometimes with the right nudge, compound and become a virtuous cycle, where private investment lures public investment, which then incentivizes additional private investment.”

To date, the Clinton County Port Authority has assisted in securing $1.575 million in total funding to support the multi-phase reconstruction of Davids Drive—an investment that strengthens the region’s logistics, manufacturing, and life sciences sectors.

The Clinton County Port Authority Board and Staff extend its congratulations to Ms. Jennifer Klus on her acceptance of the Director of Economic Development position for the City of Dublin, Ohio.  

“We wholeheartedly wish her the best on this next step in her career,” said Walt Rowsey, Chair of the Clinton County Port Authority Board. “She has been a great help in growing our county-wide Economic Development Program, and her influence on it will be missed.”

Ms. Klus will begin with the City of Dublin later this month, continuing her long career in Economic Development. She started with the Port Authority in January of 2020 and has been involved in several projects including county-wide COVID communication and small business grant efforts, a county-wide Housing Study, the Clinton County Workforce Collaborative initiative, and the recent Polaris, Inc. expansion.  Of particular note, Ms. Klus initiated efforts to bring SBDC services to Clinton County, which have been widely utilized.

“I have enjoyed the work and environment here,” said Klus, “and greatly enjoyed working with Port Authority Staff and Board. This is wonderful opportunity for me professionally and will allow me to continue to do Economic Development on a larger scale.”

“Jennifer is a consummate professional, an exceptional colleague, and driver of economic development activity. She has had a significant impact on our organization and community, and her shoes will be hard to fill,” offered Dan Evers, Executive Director of the Clinton County Port Authority.

 The countywide collaboration will continue with the current Port Authority Staff as an evaluation is made for next steps. Economic Development questions, projects and concerns should be directed to Daniel Evers, Executive Director for the Clinton County Port Authority.

About the Clinton County Port Authority

The Clinton County Port Authority is a special purpose government formed to operate transportation infrastructure and lead economic development efforts. Designated by the County, City of Wilmington, and the Wilmington CIC as the lead Economic Development agency for the County, it coordinates with the Dayton Development Coalition and JobsOhio to attract jobs to the area. It twice has been recognized as a Best Workplace. The Port Authority owns and operates the Wilmington Air Park, an integrated aviation and logistics business park located on 1,900 acres with nearly three million square feet of industrial, office, and hangar space. It is the highest volume cargo airport in Ohio and ranked 25th in the U.S. It was named Best Airport in Ohio in 2020 and 2021. Learn more at www.ChooseClintonCountyOH.org, and www.WilmintonAirPark.com.

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