Brownfields 2003 Grant Fact Sheet

Richmond, IN

EPA BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM

EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders in economic development to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. On January 11, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under the Brownfields Law, EPA provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through four competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism.

ASSESSMENT GRANT

$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Richmond for a brownfields assessment grant. The city has chosen the Whitewater Valley Gorge area to be assessed through this grant. Grant funds will be used to assess hazardous substance contamination at the site, complete Phase I and II investigations, develop a redevelopment plan, and promote community outreach.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The City of Richmond was selected to receive an assessment grant. The City of Richmond has approximately 39,000 residents and a poverty rate near 16 percent. The Whitewater Valley Gorge project area is located within a designated Urban Enterprise Zone, Economic Development Target Area, Economic Revitalization Area, and Redevelopment District. The redevelopment plan consists of converting the site to a recreational area that will include a trail, park, and museum.

CONTACTS

For further information, including specific grant contacts, additional grant information, brownfields news and events, and publications and links, visit the EPA Brownfields web site at: www.epa.gov/brownfields.

EPA Region 5 Brownfields Team
312-886-7576
http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfields/

Grant Recipient: City of Richmond, IN
765-983-7207

Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, the City of Richmond has not received brownfields grant funding.

The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change.