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Brownfields 2007
Grant Fact Sheet
Barberton, OH
EPA Brownfields Program
EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, commu-
nities, and other stakeholders 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 Barberton was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Located southeast of
Akron, Barberton (population 27,889) has a long and
prosperous industrial heritage. Many large factories
and their supporting suppliers provided the impetus for
growth and well-paying jobs. Between 1970 and 1983,
many of these businesses closed or downsized, result-
ing in the loss of over 10,000 jobs and leading to many
vacant and underused properties. The city's downtown
corridor is significantly deteriorated. Downtown
residents are severely impacted, with an unemploy-
ment rate of 13 percent and a 52 percent poverty rate.
The vacant properties range in size from service
stations to the three-square-mile PPG limestone
mining site. Assessment funds will help the city quan-
tify potential risks to human health and the environment
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the City of Barberton for two
brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous
substances grant funds will be used to conduct up
to eight Phase I and three Phase II environmental
site assessments. Funds also will be used to
inventory and prioritize sites and conduct com-
munity outreach activities. Petroleum grant funds
will be used to perform the same tasks at sites
with potential petroleum contamination.
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 5 Brownfields Team
312-886-7576
http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfields/
Grant Recipient: City of Barberton, OH
330-848-6729
The information presented in this fact sheet comes
from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the
accuracy of this information. The cooperative
agreement for the grant has not yet been negoti-
ated. Therefore, activities described in this fact
sheet are subject to change.
and continue its redevelopment momentum. Redevel-
opment will provide market-ready sites at attractive
locations, and create mixed-use developments that
meet the needs of distressed neighborhoods.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA560-F-07-015
May 2007
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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