Opportunities for Communities
The Mandela Gateway high density housing at the AMCO Chemical site in Oakland, California.
The Apache Powder Superfund site in Saint David, Arizona.
A sign advertising new jobs at The Point development at South Point Plant Superfund site in South Point, Ohio.
Communities play a pivotal role in the redevelopment of Superfund sites. Local leaders and community groups regularly look to EPA for assistance in planning and implementing the redevelopment of a Superfund site into a valuable local asset.
SRI Community Support Projects
SRI Collaboration with Other EPA Initiatives
Technical Assistance and Financing Programs
Tax Credit and Depreciation Programs
SRI Community Support Projects
SRI believes in the importance of providing community support for reuse projects and works closely with EPA's ten regions to identify Superfund sites that can benefit from reuse-related engagement and assistance. At these sites, SRI provides initial investments that help move sites toward reuse. Some examples of SRI community support projects include:
- AMCO Chemical (PDF) (32 pp, 3.1MB), Oakland, California
- Apache Powder (PDF) (14 pp, 9.1MB), Cochise County, Arizona
- Bandera Road Ground Water Plume (PDF) (2 pp, 703K), Leon Valley, Texas
- John Garland Park (PDF) (22 pp, 703K), Kansas City, Kansas
- General Motors (Central Foundry Division) (PDF) (4 pp, 5.8MB), Massena, New York
SRI Collaboration with Other EPA Initiatives
SRI works in collaboration with several Initiatives within EPA to bring additional resources, services and specific expertise to Superfund redevelopment projects. Some of the Initiatives that SRI works with to promote reuse include:
- Ecological Revitalization Providing resources to evaluate and build soil, improve habitat for plants and animals, and create a recreational asset for the community.
- Smart Growth Bringing planning tools and resources to communities in order to help them grow in ways that expand economic opportunity, protect public health and the environment, and create and enhance the places that people love.
- Superfund Job Training Initiative Offering job training and employment opportunities for citizens living in communities affected by Superfund sites.
- Urban Waters Initiative Improving water quality and water resource access to offer communities affected by Superfund sites a safe water supply, as well as safe opportunities for recreation and community gathering.
Technical Assistance and Financing Programs
Several resources are available for communities that have completed a reuse planning process and are looking for either technical assistance or financing to implement their plan. Some of these programs have been listed below and, where applicable, sites that have utilized these resources are listed below the appropriate program.
- Building Sustainable Communities
Funding opportunities and technical resources for farms, small businesses and communities. - Federal Community Development Block Grants and State-Administered Community Development Block Grants Annual grant programs to develop viable communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low- and moderate-income.
- Arlington Blending and Packaging, Arlington, Tennessee
- Midvale Slag, Midvale, Utah
- Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Department of Transportation (DOT) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Partnership for Sustainable Communities (PDF) (16 pp, 2.2MB) A select listing of funding and technical assistance programs available from these federal agencies to support community efforts to promote livable and sustainable communities.
- Planning and Local Technical Assistance Programs Economic Development Administration grants to support communities in their comprehensive, entrepreneurial and innovation-based economic development efforts.
- South Point Plant, South Point, Ohio
- Smart Growth Implementation Assistance Direct technical assistance in policy analysis or public participatory processes to assist communities encourage growth that fosters economic progress and environmental protection.
Tax Credit and Depreciation Programs
In addition to the technical assistance and financing programs noted above, there are also several tax incentive programs available that offer either tax credits or tax depreciation in the interest of encouraging development. Some of these programs have been listed below and, where applicable, sites that have utilized these resources are listed below the appropriate program.
- Business Energy Investment Tax Credit
Tax credits for businesses that utilize renewable energy modalities for their operations.
- Aerojet General Corporation, Rancho Cordova, California
- Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Empowerment Zone Tax Incentives (PDF) (1 pg, 818K) and Renewal Community Tax Incentives (PDF) (1 pg, 727K) These two HUD incentives are worth approximately $11 billion and encourage businesses to open, expand and hire local residents in eligible communities. Incentives include employment credits, a 0 percent tax on capital gains, increased tax deductions on equipment, accelerated real property depreciation and more.
- South Point Plant, South Point, Ohio
- Modified Accelerated Cost-Recovery System (MACRS)
Tax depreciation deductions to recover renewable energy investments for commercial properties.
- Aerojet General Corporation, Rancho Cordova, California
- State Brownfield Income Tax Credit Programs (PDF)
(2 pp, 82K) Individual states offer tax credits for expenditures such as site testing, remediation, new jobs created and environmental insurance.
- Former Spellman Engineering, Lake Highland, Florida
- Tax Increment Financing (TIF) TIF is a method to use expected future gains in taxes to finance current public improvements and development projects. TIF programs are managed by individual states.
- MacGillis & Gibbs Co./Bell Lumber & Pole Co., New Brighton, Minnesota
- Midvale Slag, Midvale, Utah