A state grant will help turn the site of an 84-year-old gas station and auto service garage in East Palestine into land for future development.

The Ohio Department of Development on Wednesday announced a $780,000 Ohio Brownfield Remediation grant to the Columbiana County Land Reutilization Program.

The funding will be used to remediate and redevelop the site of a gas station built at 448 East Taggart Street in 1940.

Plans include demolition, soil remediation, and the removal of aging aboveground storage tanks, just west of the site of the 2023 derailment and chemical fire.

The project will create a development-ready commercial/industrial property, enhancing local economic opportunities according to a news release from the Ohio Governor’s Office.