Baard facility in Columbiana gets $500K state grant for land purchase

WELLSVILLE — The planned Baard Energy plan to turn coal into liquid fuel received a $500,000 grant in time for the holidays.

State Rep. Linda Bolon announced that the Columbiana County Port Authority will receive the grant from the Ohio Department of Development’s Job Ready Sites program.

“While this is a phase of a lengthy process, it is especially encouraging in these tough economic times to see the state support a project that has the potential to stimulate our local economy and bring jobs to the area,” Bolon of Columbiana, D-1st, said today in a press release.

Tracy Drake, port authority chief executive officer, said the money “will extend options to hold on to the property.”

Baard Energy wants to build the proposed facility off state Route 7 in Wellsville.

For the complete story, see Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com