Funding will be used to connect new homes on 100 infill lots to existing water and sanitary sewer infrastructure, helping bring long-vacant residential parcels back into productive use.
Hamilton owns more than 250 residential parcels ready for redevelopment.
The Build Back the Block initiative, which aims to transform vacant lots into 100 affordable, owner‑occupied homes by 2030, was formally announced at the March 2025 Hamilton Neighborhoods Summit.
The first 12 homes of the city’s Build Back the Block effort are expected to be under construction this year. The initiative broke ground on its first two homes on East Avenue in September and seven more homes, one on Maple Avenue and six on Ludlow Street, at the end of February.
Once completed, the homes will be sold below construction cost to low- to moderate-income families, helping strengthen existing neighborhoods while expanding homeownership opportunities
The project supports housing demand created by investments from the Amazon.com facility in Monroe and other regional economic development projects, according to the announcement by DeWine and the department of development.
“Rebuilding homes in our traditional neighborhoods often means working with infrastructure that’s been around a long time, and reconnecting utilities is one of the biggest costs we face,” said City Manager Craig Bucheit. “That’s why this grant is such a big win for our Build Back the Block initiative.”
He said city officials are grateful to Governor DeWine and the Ohio Department of Development for their support.
“This investment reinforces the importance of the work we’re doing through Build Back the Block to address affordable housing and workforce availability,” Bucheit said.
Also receiving grants are the cities for infrastructure projects are the cities of Lancaster ($1 million), Youngstown ($2.5 million), Antwerp ($2.3 million) and Warren ($851,000)
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Local governments within a 20-mile radius of a major economic development project were eligible to apply for funding to expand housing‑related infrastructure, enhance public safety and community services or invest in capital projects that support new housing development.
The Ohio Department of Development received 48 eligible applications in this funding round, requesting nearly $99 million in total.
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