Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition Recognizes the Success and Wind Down of the Lead Safe Certification Incentive Program
Jan 28, 2026
New applications for the program will not be accepted after February 3
CLEVELAND, January 27, 2026 — The Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition will begin the wind down of the Lead Safe Certification Incentive Program on February 3. This will conclude an initiative started in July 2020 that ultimately will award $8.9 million to support Cleveland rental property owners in achieving the city’s Lead Safe Certification.
The Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition launched the incentive program as part of its Lead Safe Home Fund to encourage rental property owners to proactively make their properties lead safe, as required by Cleveland’s Lead Safe Certification law for residential buildings constructed before 1978. The certification is required every two years.
“The Lead Safe Certification Incentive program has provided valuable support to the city’s Lead Safe Certification process,” said Dr. David Margolius, Director of Public Health for the City of Cleveland. “Now is the right time for remaining resources to be dedicated to the ongoing work that directly protects children, such as home improvement and relocating children affected by lead exposure.”
The incentive program, administered by Environmental Health Watch, began with a $5 million budget. As enthusiasm for the program grew, the allocated funds were exhausted more quickly than expected. To meet demand, the Coalition supported the program with funds from its allocation of ARPA funding from the City of Cleveland.
The program awarded $750 to rental property owners who obtained a two-year Lead Safe Certification or $1,000 if they obtained a 20-year exemption through abatement. Rental property owners could qualify for up to 12 incentive awards per zip code, and up to 50 total across all City of Cleveland zip codes.
The Coalition expects to exhaust the funding allocated for the program before the original program end date of June 30, 2026. The revised application deadline of February 3 will allow applications that are already in progress to be processed. New applications received before February 3 will be considered until funds are exhausted and are not guaranteed to be paid. After February 3, rental property owners can submit an interest form. If funds are available after completion of applications submitted before the deadline, the interest forms will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.
“We’re proud of the positive impact the Lead Safe Certification Incentive program has made on the work to improve lead safety in our city,” said Kim Foreman, CEO of Environmental Health Watch and Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition Executive Committee Member. “It offered a ‘thank you’ to rental property owners who took the initiative in making their properties lead safe. The intention was for this program to last until the funds to support it were exhausted. Reaching that point five months sooner than expected is an indication of the program’s success.”
The Coalition’s work also includes its Screening and Testing program and Relocation Assistance program, which are funded through ARPA until June 30, 2026. The Coalition also continues to deploy Lead Safe Grants, administer the Childcare Grant Pilot, conduct Lead Safe Worker training, support community engagement and operate the Lead Safe Resource Center. These programs are scheduled to run through September 2027.
Find more information about the Lead Safe Certification Incentive program here. For information about other Coalition programs, call the Lead Safe Hotline at 833-601-LEAD (5323) or visit the Lead Safe Resource Center, located at 4600 Euclid Ave., 3rd floor, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or visit www.leadsafecle.org.
About the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition
The Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition was established in 2019 to address the City’s lead crisis, which particularly impacts children living in homes built before 1978 that contain lead-based paint. The Coalition’s programs aim to test ideas to improve lead testing and screening rates; help make environments lead-safe for Cleveland residents; and ease the financial burden associated with lead remediation. The Coalition’s work is made possible by philanthropic gifts, non-profit support and public funds. For more information, visit www.LeadSafeCLE.org.
Contact:
Candace Goforth DeSantis
Communications Program Manager
440.478.4693
cdesantis@enterprisecommunity.org