Brownfields 2005 Grant Fact Sheet

Cedar Rapids, IA

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 Cedar Rapids for a brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be used to select and survey sites, perform site assessments, and plan cleanup operations for up to four properties in the New Bohemia Creative District.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The City of Cedar Rapids was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. The target community is the New Bohemia Creative District (NBCD), in the Oak Hill/Jackson neighborhood of Cedar Rapids (population 120,758). The NBCD is located in an area characterized by a high concentration of old abandoned industrial buildings; low or moderate income families; and aging infrastructure. The target area has a population that is 31 percent minority, a family poverty rate of 24 percent, and a 14 percent unemployment rate. Drawn by the affordable housing and studio space, a large number of artists and families recently have relocated to the target area, creating an opportunity for reuse of old warehouses and commercial buildings. In the past few years, the city has fostered revitalization in the NBCD area, and several new residential buildings have been developed from former warehouses. However, environmental hazards pose threats to new residents and the artists community. Assessment and cleanup of these sites is essential to continue revitalization of the NBCD area; increase jobs, income, and property values; and protect the health of its residents.

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 7 Brownfields Team
913-551-7646
http://www.epa.gov/region7/cleanup/brownfields/index.htm

Grant Recipient: City of Cedar Rapids, IA
319-286-5046

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