I 'O UJ O Brownfields 2004 Grant Fact Sheet Heartland Regional Community Foundation, St. Joseph, 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, the President signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields RevitalizationAct. 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 Heartland Regional Community Foundation was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. St. Joseph (population 73,990) depends on a predominantly rural economy. The unemployment rate in St. Joseph is 5.2 percent, and the city's median household income in 1999 was 16 percent below the national average. Barriers to community growth include geographic isolation, sparse population in some locations, limited job opportunities, and an inadequate supply of trained workers. Once cleaned up, the site will become the location for the "emPower Plant," an experiential youth Cleanup Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the Heartland Regional Com- munity Foundation for a brownfields cleanup grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up hazardous substances contamination at the former St. Joseph Light & Power Co. site, which was used as a vehicle maintenance, storage, and distribution facility. Environmental concerns at the site include total petroleum hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, asbestos-containing materials, and lead-based paint. Funds will be used for remediation, development of health and safety plans, and community outreach and engagement 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 7 Brownfields Team 913-551-7786 http://www.epa.gov/region07/brownfields/ Grant Recipient: Heartland Regional Community Foundation, MO 816-271-7200 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, the activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. leadership development program facility that will have the capacity to reach up to 15,000 young people per year. The grant also is expected to encourage further investment in the area. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA560-F-04-136 June 2004 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |