Assistant Ohio House Minority Leader Matthew A. Szollosi (D-Toledo) this afternoon announced that the state has committed $4.5 million to help clear the way for new uses and job creation for the Jeep Parkway property in Toledo.

The money from the Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund will be used to remove pollution from the soil and demolish existing building foundations on the property. Part of the property will be used as an industrial park, and another section will become an urban waterfront park along the Ottawa River.

“JEEP has meant so much to so many in Northwest Ohio for decades. I am hopeful that efforts to re-develop this brownfield site are successful. The location is perfect, Toledo offers a world-class workforce, and hopefully, these incentives will encourage economic and industrial development there,” said Rep. Szollosi.

The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority bought the property in October of last year.

The industrial park is strategically located with access to two active rail lines and two interstate highways. The redevelopment will include up to five new industrial buildings, ranging from 100,000 square feet to 200,000 square feet. The State Paper and Metal Co., Inc. intends to expand their thriving materials recycling business onto the property, creating 22 new jobs.

The University of Toledo has committed to investing $3 million to install solar arrays on the northern two acres of the industrial park.

The waterfront park will feature multiple trails including a riverfront walk that will wind through the property on both sides of the river with stops along the way to guide walkers through the evolution of and history of the Jeep.