The Wayne County Land Reutilization Corporation (WCLRC), also known as a land bank, was established in 2020, operates on a calendar year, and is an independent corporation governed by board members comprised of county, municipal, and township leaders. Funding can be done in a variety of ways:

• Through the county’s delinquent tax and assessment collection fund.
• Delinquent tax penalties.
• Tax delinquency anticipation notes.
• Through loans, land sales, or grants.

The WCLRC affords the county the ability to reclaim, rehabilitate, and reutilize nonproductive land under sections 1724 and 5722 of the Ohio Revised Code. With a land bank in effect, Wayne County has the option of taking ownership of foreclosed property and managing it until a time that redevelopment can begin.

Land banks are not a new concept. They were formed in the 1960s as an urban planning tool. But recently, they have become increasingly important tools for counties facing an ever-growing amount of vacant and abandoned buildings. In 2008 state legislators passed a bill allowing Cuyahoga County Commissioners to create a modern land bank in Ohio. The Ohio land bank became the model other states followed. A county land bank may be customized to fit the unique needs of the community it serves.

Utilizing a land bank will align with Wayne County’s county comprehensive plan, Wayne Onward. The plan outlines community investment as an opportunity to re-establish communities experiencing decline and support the redevelopment of public and private buildings.