Ohio Awards Energy Grants to Commercial Buildings
Commercial property owners receive state funding to help drive down long-term utility costs through facility upgrades.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Business — General
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The Ohio Department of Development has awarded $7.5 million in grants to 11 organizations for energy efficiency upgrades. Ohio One Group, which acquired the Ohio One building in 2025, received $254,169 to fund facility improvements.
Why it matters
State funding allows facility operators to offset capital costs associated with energy efficiency upgrades designed to lower long-term utility expenses.
The state awarded $254,169 to Ohio One Group out of $7.5 million in total grants distributed to 11 organizations. The program has funded $32 million across 40 organizations in 29 counties since inception.
The players
Ohio One Group
A commercial property owner and manager that recently acquired the Ohio One office building in Youngstown.
Ohio Department of Development
The state agency responsible for overseeing economic development and managing the Advanced Energy Fund program.
The details
Recipients must demonstrate a minimum 15 percent reduction in energy usage to qualify for the state funding. Ohio One Group plans to apply the grant toward installing LED lighting, improving the building envelope, repairing steam traps, and integrating a digital building controls system. These measures are projected to yield annual utility energy savings of 24.1 percent for the office complex.
Timeline
2025: Ohio One Group purchased the Ohio One office building.
October 30, 2026: The Ohio Department of Development announced the latest round of grant awards.
Market Landscape
The latest awards continue the state's rollout of the Advanced Energy Fund, which prioritizes significant reductions in energy consumption for aging infrastructure. This program aligns with ongoing efforts to reduce operational overhead for large-scale facilities across Ohio.
Operators planning significant facility upgrades should monitor state-level energy programs for capital assistance tied to efficiency performance targets. Projects must hit specific benchmarks, such as the 15 percent energy reduction threshold, to remain eligible for public funding.
The takeaway
Energy efficiency grants can significantly offset the cost of necessary building envelope and control system improvements. Facility managers should audit their current energy usage and benchmark it against program requirements to identify if they meet the criteria for future state-supported infrastructure rounds.
Further reading
For more on state-backed initiatives impacting local firms, explore Business — General.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Business Journal Daily | The Youngstown Publishing Company.
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Should states provide grant funding for energy efficiency improvements in private office buildings?
