News Releases from Region 05
EPA Announces More Than $2 Million in Brownfield Grants to Help Indiana Communities Assess and Clean Up Contaminated Properties and Promote Economic Redevelopment
Brownfields Program helps return blighted properties to productive reuse
CHICAGO (April 25, 2018) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected six communities in Indiana for Brownfields environmental Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup grants. The grants totaling $2.34 million will provide communities with funding to assess, clean up and redevelop underutilized properties while protecting public health and the environment.
“EPA’s Brownfields Program expands the ability of communities to recycle vacant and abandoned properties for new, productive reuses, using existing infrastructure," said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. "These grants leverage other public and private investments, and improve local economies through property cleanup and redevelopment.”
“Clearly there is no shortage of creativity, innovation and ingenuity when it comes to brownfields redevelopment projects in the great State of Indiana,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Cathy Stepp. “EPA looks forward to expanding our work with our partners to redevelop brownfields so they can once again be thriving parts of their communities – spurring local economies with jobs and new businesses as well as generating tax revenues and spending.”
The six Indiana grantees are:
- Clarksville: The town will receive $440,000 to prepare properties along the Ohio River for redevelopment. Idle properties that once housed historic industries along the west and south riverfronts will be investigated to ensure environmental contamination does not prevent safe redevelopment.
- Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission in Southern Indiana: The commission will receive $400,000 to investigate the environmental condition of former industrial properties and main-street buildings in six towns located in the southern part of the state. A previous Brownfield grant was used to assess properties and helped the towns of Birdseye and Jasper prepare for a new fire station and hotel, respectively.
- Indianapolis: Indianapolis will investigate environmental conditions in southeast neighborhoods with an additional $300,000 in grant funding. This grant will be the fifth Indianapolis has received. Earlier grants helped the city redevelop numerous properties including The Vue, a 242-unit residential complex.
- Jeffersonville: Jeffersonville will receive a $300,000 grant to continue redevelopment efforts. Properties in the 10th Street Corridor will be assessed during the transformation into a pedestrian-friendly marketplace neighborhood that includes housing and commercial space. A previous grant supported the creation of housing and a pedestrian and bicycle bridge across the Ohio River linking the city with Louisville.
- Michigan City Sanitary District: Michigan City will receive $600,000 to conduct environmental investigations of properties throughout the city. The grant is made in partnership with the Michigan City Redevelopment Commission to continue the redevelopment of recreational areas near Trail Creek and promote job creation by reclaiming former industrial properties in the Monon Corridor.
- Richmond: Richmond will continue to pursue redevelopment in the Depot District through a $300,000 grant. Richmond will promote additional business and employment beginning with the environmental investigation of abandoned and idle properties in the area.
"Clarksville is becoming a thriving community that embraces our significant world heritage and continually increases the quality of life for our local residents. The Clarksville Coalition's Brownfield Assessment Grant will further local redevelopment efforts, within the West Riverfront and South Clarksville neighborhoods. Through public, private, and non-profit partnerships, these areas will be transformed into Grand Park, a 400+ acre urban park serving the entire Kentuckiana populous, and a vibrant waterfront downtown for the Town of Clarksville,” said Town of Clarksville Town Manager Kevin Baity.
“As Indianapolis continues to grow and thrive as a major metropolis, we must ensure we are protecting the wellbeing of our residents and success of future generations. This Assessment Grant will enable us to collect the data necessary to guide the healthy and safe redevelopment of the southeast side of our city, fueling a future where all Indianapolis neighborhoods remain ideal places to live, work, and play,” said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett.
"Richmond is excited to have been selected to receive the U.S. EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant to update our Brownfield Inventory,” said Richmond Mayor David M. Snow. “Cleaning up and reinvesting in our brownfield properties is important to moving our community forward. It will help improve the local economy, increase the tax base, provide job opportunities, address environmental contamination and effect positive change on blighted and underutilized areas."
List of the FY 2018 Applicants Selected for Funding: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicants-selected-fy18-brownfields-assessment-revolving-loan-fund-and-cleanup-grants
For more information on the ARC grants: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding
For more information on EPA’s Brownfields program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields
For more information on how Brownfields restoration has positively impacted local economies and the quality of life for neighboring communities: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfields-success-stories
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