WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded $3.9 million to the City of Columbus Department of Development. This includes $3.5 million through the Lead Based Paint Hazard Control grant program and $400,000 through the Healthy Homes Initiative. The funding will be used to control and remove lead hazards and conduct healthy homes assessments in 250 housing units for low-income families with children.

“Prolonged exposure to lead in the home is dangerous, especially for children,” Brown said. “These federal funds are critical to keeping communities in Columbus safe for the next generation of Ohioans.”

Brown continues to advocate for the safety of Ohio communities. Following reports revealing  dangerously high levels of residual lead contamination near former smelter sites in Cleveland and Cincinnati, Brown wrote to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ohio EPA, urging the agencies to move quickly to address and clean up the contaminated sites.

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