![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Brownfields 2008 Grant Fact Sheet
Springfield, MO
EPA BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM
EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders 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 this 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.
CLEANUP GRANT
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Springfield for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up the West Meadows of Jordan Valley Park site at 725 West Olive Street. The currently vacant site was used as a rail yard. Site soil and shallow groundwater are contaminated with polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, metals, and volatile organic compounds.
COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION
The City of Springfield was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Located in southwestern Missouri, Springfield (population 151,580) is targeting a site in the Jordan Valley Park area (population 14,299). This area has traditionally depended on industrial, manufacturing, and commercial businesses. It includes the city's downtown and West Central, one of the city's oldest and most economically depressed neighborhoods. Poverty and unemployment rates in the area are 29.2 percent and 10 percent, respectively. The neighborhood is home to a significantly higher minority population than the rest of the city. About 500 properties requiring environmental assessment are located in the target area. These properties decrease surrounding property values and deter investment. Cleanup of the target site is expected to reduce environmental risks and spur redevelopment activities. The city plans to redevelop the site as open space and as the focal point of an alternative stormwater management system.
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.
EPA Region 7 Brownfields Team
800-223-0425
EPA Region 7 Brownfields web site
Grant Recipient: City of Springfield, MO
417-864-1092
The information presented in this fact sheet comes from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. The cooperative agreement for the grant has not yet been negotiated. Therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change.