1U o Brownfields 2005 Grant Fact Sheet Independence, MO 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, 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. Addi- tionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism. Community Description The City of Independence was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Independence (popula- tion 113,288) is a town with a rich history from the days of the frontier trails, through the Civil War, and as the home of President Harry Truman and the Truman Presidential Library. It is also a city with an urban core dotted with vacant lots and blighted, abandoned structures, and an aging and increasingly low-to- moderate income population. Brownfields are contrib- uting to the deterioration of the neighborhood and general disinvestment in the area. They pose potential health risks to the community and represent lost tax revenues needed to provide services to the residents of the area. Assessment of brownfields sites will allow V. Assessment Grant ^2005/j rji<* $25,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the City of Independence for a brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be used to conduct community outreach activities, inventory and select sites, and perform three Phase I environmental site assessments on sites in the city's urban core. 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 913-551-7646 http://www.epa.gov/Region7/citizens/brownfields/ index.htm Grant Recipient: City of Independence, MO 816-325-7397 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. the city to move forward with its vision to promote a vibrant downtown area in a manner that will reduce pollution and resource consumption and promote economic revitalization. This revitalization is expected to bring new jobs and an increase in tourism and retail shopping in the area. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA560-F-05-122 May 2005 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |