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  Brownfields  2004

  Grant  Fact Sheet

             Oca/a, FL




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 Ocala has been selected to receive a
brownfields assessment grant.  Ocala is a city of
approximately 46,000 residents in Marion County. The
city's economic history includes foundries, lumber mills,
fruit and meatpacking facilities, and fertilizer plants. It
was also later based on tourism at the Silver Springs
attraction six miles east of downtown. Most tourism
attractions eventually moved south, leaving behind
many vacant and blighted structures and properties.
According to 2000 census data, unemployment in
Ocala is about 5 percent, with  more than 18 percent of
the population living in poverty. Brownfields redevelop-
ment is expected to create additional jobs and housing,
and increase property values. The  city also hopes to
                       Assessment Grant
                       $200,000 for hazardous substances

                       EPA has selected the City of Ocala to receive a
                       brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be
                       used to inventory and characterize potential
                       brownfield sites in the city's Community Redevel-
                       opment Area, and to perform Phase I and II
                       assessments at selected sites. Grant funds will
                       also be used to conduct community outreach
                       activities.
                       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 4 Brownfields Team
                       404-562-8493
                       http://www.epa.gov/region4/waste/bf/index.htm

                       Grant Recipient: Ocala, FL
                       352-629-4776

                       The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
                       yet been negotiated; therefore, the activities
                       described in this fact sheet are subject to change.
                    remove contamination threats to the Floridian Aquifer,
                    which is the drinking water source for Ocala and
                    Marion County.
                                                  Solid Waste and
                                                  Emergency Response
                                                  (5105T)
                                             EPA 560-F-04-082
                                             June 2004
                                             www.epa.gov/brownfields

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