SB, HI C3 Brownfields 2003 Grant Fact Sheet Development Downtown, Inc., Buffalo, NY EPA Brownfields Program EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, commu- nities, and other stakeholders in economic development 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 con- taminant. 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. Community Description Development Downtown, Inc. was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Development Downtown, Inc. is a quasi-governmental entity under the supervi- sion of the City of Buffalo. Historically, Buffalo (population 292,648) has been upstate New York's primary manufacturing and industrial center, due in part to its strategic location on Lake Erie. The closing of numerous industrial facilities along Buffalo's water- ways and canals has contributed to urban blight and disinvestment in areas with high redevelopment potential. Buffalo is among the poorest of the 100 largest U.S. cities in terms of household income, unemployment, and percentage of people on public assistance. The city has a poverty rate of nearly 27 Cleanup Grant $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected Development Downtown, Inc. for a brownfields cleanup grant. Grant funds will be used to conduct petroleum cleanup activities at Parcel 2 of the Union Ship Canal property, which is part of a larger mixed-use redevelopment project that will stimulate economic development in the City of Buffalo. An assessment of Parcel 2 found 1,388 cubic yards of petroleum-contami- nated soils on the site. 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 2 Brownfields Team 212-637-4314 http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/ brownfields/ Grant Recipient: Development Downtown, Inc., NY 716-856-6525 Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, Development Downtown, Inc. has not received brownfields grant funding. The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. percent and an unemployment rate of almost 13 percent. Fifteen percent of the total land area in the city is vacant. Parcel 2 of the Union Ship Canal property was used primarily for iron production and included furnaces and numerous buildings. Once cleaned up, the parcel will be incorporated into the Union Ship Canal Redevelopment project, which is expected to dramatically stimulate economic develop- ment in the City of Buffalo. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 500-F-03-084 June 2003 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |