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Brownfields 2007
Grant Fact Sheet
Lorain, 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 Lorain was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Lorain (population
65,476) is located on Lake Erie about 30 miles west of
Cleveland at the mouth of the Black River. The growth
of the city was based on manufacturing, primarily
steel, auto, and shipping. Manufacturing facilities
lined the Lake Erie and Black River waterfronts. Much
of the heavy industry is now closed, leaving poten-
tially contaminated former industrial properties
throughout the city. Many of the abandoned facilities
are surrounded by lower income housing. The recent
closing of Ford's Econoline plant cost the city 1,500
jobs. The median household income in Lorain is much
lower than the national median, and almost 18 percent
of Lorain residents live below the poverty level.
Despite this economic distress, the city created an
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the City of Lorain for two
brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous
substances grant funds will be used to support
community outreach, identify and prioritize sites,
and conduct up to eight Phase I and three Phase II
environmental site assessments. 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 Lorain, OH
440-204-2270
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.
urban renewal plan and is making progress to reclaim
brownfields properties. Assessment grant funds will
enable the city to leverage state cleanup funding and
private investments and continue the process of
redeveloping brownfields into commercial, residential,
and public uses.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-07-096
May 2007
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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