On December 16, 2022, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced a $165,080 Brownfield Assessment Grant has been awarded to Belpre City Schools to conduct an environmental assessment of the old Belpre Elementary School. The building, constructed in 1949, is not suitable for future use and is currently adjacent to Lawton School. Jessie Roush, Executive Director of the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority, created and championed the grant through the application process. The Belpre City School District Board of Education unanimously directed the administrative team on December 18, 2022 to prepare a bid package for demolition of the building. This badly needed grant funding will offset the cost to the taxpayer and provide the school district with an accurate assessment of any hazardous materials that need to be abated prior to demolition. “We are grateful to Mr. Roush for all the hard work his office did in support of Belpre, Ohio and its school district,” said Mr. Greenley, Superintendent of Belpre City Schools. “Belpre City Schools will continue to work with county and state officials to secure any and all possible funding to bring the district’s Master Facility Plan to life.” In the past four years, Belpre City School District has secured nearly $2.5 million dollars in competitive grant funding to support both academic and school facility needs.
You can read the Governor's full announcement by clicking on this link.