Around 200 abandoned and dilapidated properties and vacant lots throughout Lawrence County will be cleaned up, thanks to a $4.325 million grant from the Ohio Department of Housing’s Neighborhood Initiative Program for the land bank, which was initiated in Lawrence County in July.

An announcement was made Friday afternoon in Lawrence County Auditor Jason Stephens’ office, where Lawrence County Treasurer Stephen Burcham, who heads the land bank, spoke along with various other members of the land bank board.

“I’m proud of all the work that was done,” Burcham said. “It will make a significant impact in our county.”

The grant for the land bank is the largest non-emergency grant that Lawrence County has ever received, and the total project is the largest urban renewal project ever in the county.

Burcham added that with this grant, the land bank not only will be able to clean up properties, it will also bring jobs along the way in the demolition of structures on properties, greening of the properties and new construction on the properties.

Properties targeted by the land bank range from Hanging Rock, along the river all the way to the village of Athalia.

When the land bank turns a property around, they are put on the market at fair market value to not disrupt neighborhood value.

“It’s a great day for Lawrence County,” Lawrence County Commissioner Bill Pratt, who is also a member of the land bank board, said.

He added that he was proud of the land bank board, as well as all others involved, for looking past party lines and working together to get this grant for the betterment of Lawrence County.

Besides Burcham and Pratt, others on the land bank board include Lawrence County Commissioner Freddie Hayes Jr., Ironton Mayor Katrina Keith, and Upper Township Trustee Craig Thomas. Also involved with the land bank are Lawrence County Auditor Jason Stephens, Lawrence County Recorder Sharon Hager and Lawrence County Prosecutor Brigham Anderson.