EPA Awards $1 Million in Brownfields Grants to Cleanup and Revitalize Communities in Kentucky
Atlanta – May 28, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it plans to award four recipients in Kentucky with brownfields grants for new investments to provide communities with funding necessary to clean and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and create jobs while protecting human health.
EPA’s Brownfields grants provide resources early which is critical for the success of communities’ ability to leverage additional partnerships and resources. The community leaders– represented by local governments, states, tribes, quasi-governmental organizations, and non-profit entities– have demonstrated strong partnerships and plan to leverage the EPA grants with other public-private investments. They use an inclusive process to help spur the redevelopment of vacant, former manufacturing and commercial sites for broader revitalization in their downtowns. This results in a transformed economy and environment while addressing poverty and economic distress.
“Brownfield sites– because of their locations and associated infrastructure advantages– are community assets and a key component of the Obama Administration’s efforts to provide tools to sustainably revitalize communities and foster economic development,” said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. “These communities have demonstrated a plan to leverage their grants and partnerships to achieve economic and environmental revitalization to meet their needs for jobs. The grants will help transform brownfield sites, such as former manufacturing and mill sites, into productive end uses which directly benefit community residents and create opportunities including increased housing options, recreational spaces, and jobs.”
The Kentucky brownfield grant recipients are:
· Cumberland Valley Area Development District ($400,000 assessment grant)
· Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (Former Fayette County Courthouse) ($200,00 cleanup grant)
· City of Vanceburg (Old Shoe Factory) ($200,00 cleanup and outreach grant)
· Greater Louisville YMCA ($200,000 cleanup grant)
This latest funding advances EPA’s broader commitment to making a visible difference in communities that focuses on better coordinating federal investments to help environmentally overburdened, underserved, and economically distressed communities address local priorities. Communities selected this year demonstrate a high level of preparedness to undertake specific projects as they have firm commitments of leveraged funds to move projects forward.
Since the inception of the EPA’s Brownfields Program in 1995, cumulative brownfield program investments have leveraged more than $22 billion from a variety of public and private sources for cleanup and redevelopment activities. This equates to an average of $17.79 leveraged per EPA brownfield dollar expended. These investments have resulted in approximately 105,942 jobs nationwide. EPA’s Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields sites.
More information on EPA’s brownfields:
Program http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/
Success Stories http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/success/index.htm
Grants by state: http://cfpub.epa.gov/bf_factsheets/
Connect with EPA Region 4 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion4
And on Twitter: @EPASoutheast
