Brownfields 2005 Grant Fact Sheet

Cocoa, FL

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 petroleum
EPA has selected the City of Cocoa for a brownfields assessment grant. Petroleum grant funds will be used for updating the city's brownfields inventory, conducting up to nine Phase I site assessments, developing up to five quality assurance plans, and conducting up to five limited and two full Phase II site assessments. Funds also will be used for community outreach activities.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The City of Cocoa was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Cocoa, with a population of approximately 16,600, is located on the east central coast of Florida. While some growth has occurred at the city borders, a large part of its older core is experiencing a profound loss of businesses and jobs. The target brownfield area has a population that is 57 percent minorities, 38 percent of its citizens live in poverty, and 12 percent are unemployed. There are 177 vacant residential units and 194 vacant commercial and industrial properties within this 2.3-square-mile area. Some of these properties suffer from real or perceived environmental contamination. Redevelopment will allow construction of new housing, retail and office space, and greenspace. It will also address environmental justice issues by replacing contaminated sites with economic and community development opportunities for community residents, discourage urban sprawl, and address environmental concerns.

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 4 Brownfields Team
404-562-8684
http://www.epa.gov/region4/waste/bf/index.htm

Grant Recipient: City of Cocoa, FL
321-637-7217

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