Brownfields 2007 Grant Fact Sheet

Clearwater, FL

EPA BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM

EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. On January 11, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under the Brownfields Law, EPA provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through four competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism.

ASSESSMENT GRANTS

$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the City of Clearwater for two brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to conduct 15 Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments, develop quality assurance project and health monitoring plans, and conduct community outreach. Petroleum grant funds will be used to perform the same tasks at sites with potential petroleum contamination.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The City of Clearwater was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Located on Florida's west-central coast, Clearwater (population 109,000) used to be the center for canning, packing, and shipping of citrus fruits grown in the region. Brownfields redevelopment will focus on the Clearwater Brownfields Area (CBA), which is home to Clearwater's low-income residents. It also has the highest concentration of minority residents, nearly 45 percent. The CBA was once a thriving business center, but the economic base has decreased significantly over the past 30 years. This decline has left a legacy of abandoned lands tainted by former gas stations, drycleaning facilities, and print shops. When brownfields are assessed, the city will use this information to leverage investments in affordable housing and commercial and office space. Redevelopment is expected to provide economic and community development opportunities, create jobs, and increase property values.

CONTACTS

For further information, including specific grant contacts, additional grant information, brownfields news and events, and publications and links, visit the EPA Brownfields web site at: www.epa.gov/brownfields.

EPA Region 4 Brownfields Team
404-562-8792
http://www.epa.gov/region4/waste/bf/index.htm

Grant Recipient: City of Clearwater, FL
727-562-4054

The information presented in this fact sheet comes from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. The cooperative agreement for the grant has not yet been negotiated. Therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change.