August 20, 2007—Nine state or local governments are receiving supplemental grants from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help return problem properties to productive use. Approximately $2.2 million is being awarded to brownfields revolving loan funds grantees. According to EPA, brownfields are sites where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.
EPA’s brownfields program provides funding to state, local and tribal governments to make low-interest loans and subgrants that fund cleanup activities at brownfields sites. Since 1997, grant recipients have executed 114 loans and awarded 13 subgrants to support brownfields cleanup totaling more than $53 million. The loan funds have leveraged more than $780 million in public and private cleanup and redevelopment investment.
The following state and local governments have been selected to receive the brownfields supplemental money: California–Oakland ($165,000); Connecticut–Bridgeport ($250,000); Florida–Hillsborough County ($400,000); Illinois–Rockford ($200,000); Massachusetts–Worcester ($100,000); Minnesota–Minnesota Dept. of Employment and Economic Development ($250,000); New Hampshire–New Hampshire Dept. of Environmental Services ($150,000); Oklahoma–Oklahoma City ($250,000); and Washington–Washington Dept. of Community, Trade and Economic Development ($500,000).
For more information on brownfields cleanup revolving loan fund pilots and grants, or general information on EPA’s brownfields program, visit the EPA Web site.
