by Brianna Crandall — October 27, 2010—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced awards of $4 million in assistance to 23 communities, many in under-served and economically disadvantaged areas, to develop area-wide plans for the reuse of brownfields properties.
The plans will integrate site cleanup and reuse into coordinated strategies to lay the foundation for addressing community needs such as economic development, job creation, housing, recreation, and education and health facilities. EPA explains that brownfields are properties where the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants may complicate the properties’ expansion, redevelopment or reuse.
EPA will award up to $175,000 per selected recipient and will work with the selected projects in 18 states and one territory to identify ways the planning effort can utilize local, state and federal resources to help implement area-wide efforts for housing, transportation, economic growth and healthy communities.
Recipients will be able to leverage the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, a joint effort of EPA, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Economic Development Administration, to identify potential resources to help move the community plans forward. This interagency collaboration ensures that the agencies’ policies, programs, and funding consider affordable housing, transportation and environmental protection together.
