State to provide $75 million to help demolish vacant homes

State to provide $75 million to help demolish vacant homes

COLUMBUS — Attorney General Mike DeWine said today the state will provide $75 million to help demolish vacant homes throughout Ohio.

DeWine will come to Youngstown on Friday to discuss the program. During a press conference, DeWine twice mentioned Youngstown.

Communities would have to put up half of the money with the state matching that amount on a 50-50 split, he said.

Federal and state agencies reached a $25 billion settlement, announced today, with the nation’s five largest mortgage companies.

DeWine expects the program “to revitalize neighborhoods” in the state.

“It’s time to be bold, it’s time to be innovative,” he said.

There are at least 100,000 vacant houses ready for demolition statewide, DeWine estimated.

There are more than 4,500 vacant structures in Youngstown and at least 2,500 in Warren, according to figures compiled by the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative.

For the complete story, read Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com