News & Updates

STATE AWARDS FRANKLIN COUNTY $200,000 GRANT

Columbus, OH - Lieutenant Governor Bruce Johnson today announced that Franklin County has been awarded $200,000 from the Industrial Site Improvement Fund (ISIF), which provides grants to improve qualified commercial and industrial areas. The funds will be used to replace Columbus Steel Castings’ outdated water-cooling and distribution system.

“The ISIF is a tool that makes it possible for Ohio communities and businesses to create new infrastructure, and to upgrade existing facilities for future job creation,” said Johnson, who also serves as state development director. “This project will allow Columbus Steel Castings to replace antiquated equipment, reduce the strain on Columbus’ water system and create opportunities for future growth and job creation at the plant site.”

Franklin County will partner with Columbus Steel Castings on the $1.8 million project to replace aged water-cooling and distribution systems at its 100 year-old plant located on Columbus’ south side. Parts of the current system are more than 50 years old. A new system will increase efficiency at the plant and make better use of available water resources. The project will benefit the surrounding community and the city of Columbus by allowing for the retention of the facility and its 1,000 jobs. The new system will also prevent significant increases in demand on the City’s water system.

Columbus Steel Castings, which is the largest single site steel foundry in the world, manufactures steel castings for freight and passenger rail cars, locomotives, mining equipment, industrial magnets, earth moving equipment, steel rolling mills, dams, bridges, oil platforms and other industries. The company will fund the balance of the project.

The ISIF is a reimbursement grant program that provides up to $500,000 in assistance to eligible Ohio counties for the purpose of improving qualified commercial and industrial areas. The proposed project site must be used primarily for commercial or industrial activities, and funding can be used for commercial and/or industrial land and building acquisition; public and/or private infrastructure improvements; expansion and/or renovation of existing buildings; and environmental remediation.

ISIF applications are evaluated based on the county’s distress level, the project’s feasibility and implementation plan, local and private financial participation and the economic and community impact of the project.

About Columbus Steel Castings: Columbus Steel Castings is one of the world's premier suppliers to the rail industry. Operating out of the largest steel foundry in North America, Columbus Steel Castings is dedicated to the production of high quality steel castings for the freight rail, mass transit and heavy industry markets. Our customers include many of the leading railcar builders and railroads in North America and around the globe.