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 Brownfields  2004
 Grant  Fact  Sheet
     Cedar Rapids,  I A
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. Abrownfield 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, the President
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 pro-
grams through a separate mechanism.

Community Description

The City of Cedar Rapids was selected to receive two
brownfields cleanup grants. The target neighborhood
(population 1,842) near downtown Cedar Rapids
(population 120,758) is a former enclave of Czech
immigrants. As this ethnic population became more
integrated into the general society, the area lost its
community image and the corresponding services.
Today, the target area is 31 percent minority, the
median household income is 65 percent less than the
city median, 24.5 percent of the families live below the
poverty line, and the unemployment rate is 14 percent.
Both sites will become part of a larger revitalization
effort. Sinclair Square, a 45,000 square foot mixed-use
   Cleanup Grants
   $400,000 for hazardous substances
   EPA has selected the City of Cedar Rapids for
   two brownfields cleanup grants. Hazardous
   substances funds will be used to clean up two
   neighboring sites, the former Iowa Iron Works
   and Iowa Steel properties, located at 400 and 415
   12th Avenue, SE. The sites are contaminated with
   arsenic, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, lead,
   oil, and perchloroethylene. Once they are cleaned
   up, the sites will be redeveloped to accommodate
   retail, public services, housing, and recreational
   facilities.
   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 7 Brownfields Team
   913-551-7786
   http://www.epa.gov/region07/brownfields/
   Grant Recipient: Cedar Rapids, IA
   319-286-5046
   The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
   yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
   in this fact sheet are subject to change.
facility with a community center, senior center, market,
city recreational offices, and small business, will be
built on the old iron works property. Associated devel-
opment is planned for the old steel site.
                                                  Solid Waste and
                                                  Emergency Response
                                                  (5105T)
                         EPA 560-F-04-030
                         June 2004
                         www.epa.gov/brownfields

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