Brownfields 2005 Grant Fact Sheet

Des Moines, 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 petroleum
EPA has selected the City of Des Moines for a brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be used to perform site assessments and plan cleanup operations in the Capitol East, Fairground, and possibly other neighborhoods. Funds also will be used to conduct community involvement activities.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The City of Des Moines was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Des Moines (population 198,682) is targeting areas such as the Capitol East and Fairground neighborhoods in East Des Moines, which have suffered many years of disinvestment. Both communities have a lower average per capita income, and a higher percentage of families living below the poverty level than the city as a whole. In addition, the neighborhoods have minority populations that range from 14 to 39 percent. There are an estimated 350 abandoned gas stations throughout the city. Brownfields assessment initially will concentrate on the abandoned gas stations in the Capital East and Fairground neighborhoods. In the Capitol East neighborhood, the city plans to redevelop the area into a cultural Hispanic/Latino destination-point. In the Fairground neighborhood, the city is working with private entities to develop a hotel and restaurant near the State Fairgrounds. Redevelopment will generate a higher tax base, increase jobs, and remove environmental and public health threats in these communities.

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 Des Moines, IA
515-237-1351

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