The grant will permit demolition on the property.

The grant will permit demolition on the property.

STAFF REPORT

COLUMBIANA — State Rep. Linda Bolon of Columbiana, D-1st, has helped obtain a $742,474 grant sought by the Columbiana County Port Authority to clean up the former National Refractories property and create jobs.

The project will clear the way for Zarbana Industries, Inc. to use the site. Its operation may create up to 150 new jobs in the area.

“Creating and keeping jobs in Columbiana County is of the utmost importance,” Bolon said in a statement. “It is crucial that we clean up former industrial sites such as this and use them for new economic development.”

The grant from the Clean Ohio Assistance Fund will permit demolition and remediation activities on the 37-acre property.

The port authority plans to use the funds for asbestos abatement, hazardous waste removal, drum generator closure activities and to remove a former 300-foot-long refractory brick kiln.

That work will provide space for the proposed industrial operation of a 5,000-ton aluminum extrusion press by Zarbana Industries.

Zarbana, an aluminum extruder, plans to invest about $1 million to develop 20,000 square feet of industrial space on the property and to create 80 to 150 jobs upon completion of the installation of the press.

The Clean Ohio Assistance Fund is an annual appropriation dedicated to brownfield redevelopment in eligible areas.

Columbiana County has been identified on the “Ohio – Priority Investment Areas for 2008” map as a distressed county and meets the criteria to use this fund, Bolon said.

Tracy Drake, chief executive officer of the county’s port authority, had sought funds to make use of the site that would also provide jobs in the northern portion of the county. He could not be reached to comment.