Kaptur Announces Brownfields Award for Toledo

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 28, 2014) -- Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) today announced a $127,825 federal award to the city of Toledo for brownfield redevelopment at the former Chevrolet transmission plant on West Central Avenue. The grant was made by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).

Kaptur, a senior member of the Energy and Water subcommittee, said the award will make it possible for the city to make use of the site for economic development. “This award will help continue reclaiming our industrial legacy,” said Kaptur. “Toledo was one of only 12 communities in Ohio to receive an award.”

She said USEPA announced 264 awards nationally to 171 communities, totaling $67 million for cleaning up and redeveloping contaminated properties.

The Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup Grants will give million in brownfields funding to clean and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and leverage jobs while protecting public health and the environment. The FY14 Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (ARC) grants will give communities and businesses a chance to return economic stability to under-served and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.

“Not only are these funds protecting the environment and public health by helping communities clean up blighted toxic waste sites, there are new job growth opportunities for local economies to leverage through these investments," said Gina McCarthy, EPA Administrator. “With cities looking at how to combat the impacts of climate change, it's more important than ever for communities to innovate new ways to retrofit formerly polluted sites into assets for the community."

Since the inception of the EPA’s Brownfields program in 1995, cumulative brownfield program investments have leveraged more than $21 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 93,000 jobs nationwide.
More information on brownfields grants by state: Grant Fact Sheet Search | Brownfields | US EPA

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