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Environmental News
Belinda Young
(913) 551-7003
young.belinda@epa.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2004
EPA AWARDS ALMOST $4 MILLION TO IOWA AND MISSOURI TO REVITALIZE BLIGHTED COMMUNITIES
EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt announced, June 15 almost $4 million in Brownfields grants to clean up and assess seven communities in Region 7. Missouri also received funding to support six smaller cities.
The Region 7 Brownfields grant recipients are:
| Southeast Iowa Regional | |
| Planning Commission | $400,000 Assessment Grants |
| Coralville, Iowa | $350,000 Assessment Grants |
| Cedar Rapids, Iowa | $400,000 Cleanup Grants |
| St. Louis Development Corp. | $400,000 Assessment Grants |
| St. Louis Development Corp. | $950,000 Revolving Loan Fund |
| Springfield, Missouri | $300,000 Assessment Grants |
| Kansas City, Mo. | $400,000 Assessment Grants |
| Heartland Regional Community Foundation | |
| St. Joseph, Mo. | $200,000 Cleanup Grant |
Leavitt announced more than $75 million in Brownfields grants to help revitalize former industrial and commercial sites in 42 states and Puerto Rico. These funds will help to turn brownfield sites from problem properties to productive community use. The funds will also provide for the assessment and clean up of hazardous substances and petroleum.
“Brownfields sites like these are a blight on thousands of cities, towns and rural areas across the country,” Leavitt said. “We’re helping to turn these eyesores into opportunities, bringing new life to communities and cities, everything from new jobs and new housing to new shopping opportunities and new recreational facilities.”
In all, 219 applicants, including five tribal nations, were selected to receive 265 grants.
The Brownfields program encourages redevelopment of America’s estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites. Since the beginning of the Brownfields program, EPA has awarded 554 assessment grants totaling more than $150 million, 171 revolving loan fund grants totaling more than $145 million, and 66 cleanup grants totaling $11.4 million.
For more information on the grant recipients, go to: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields.
For information on Region 7 grant award events go to:
http://www.epa.gov/region07/news_events/events/index.htm
“Join Us at the Brownfields 2004 Conference in St.
Louis, Missouri”
September 20 - 22
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