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  Brownfields  2006

  Grant  Fact  Sheet

                Visalia

      Redevelopment

          Agency,  CA


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 Visalia Redevelopment Agency was selected to
receive two brownfields cleanup grants. Located in
central California's San Joaquin Valley, Visalia
(population 108,000) is known as the "Jewel of the
Valley." However, in the neighborhood where the
brownfields are to be cleaned up with EPA
brownfields grant funds are located, 70.6 percent of
residents are minorities, and 31.8 percent of residents
live in poverty. The unemployment rate is nearly three
times the national average, and the per capita income
is only 53 percent of the national average. A signifi-
  Cleanup Grants
  $236,000 for hazardous substances
  EPA has selected the Visalia Redevelopment
  Agency for two brownfields cleanup grants.
  Grant funds will be used to clean up contamina-
  tion at the NE and the NW Burke Street/Oak
  Avenue sites at Burke Street and Oak Avenue.
  Union Pacific Railroad had leased the sites for
  decades to businesses that included two rail
  spurs, material storage facilities, a former auto
  wrecking yard, and warehouses. Funds also will
  be used for community outreach. When the sites
  are cleaned up, they will be part of a government
  and business office center.
  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 9 Brownfields Team
  415-972-3092
  http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/brown/
  index.html
  Grant Recipient: Visalia Redevelopment Agency,
  CA
  559-713-4364
  The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
  yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
  in this fact sheet are subject to change.
cant number of the former industrial parcels northeast of
downtown are or have been brownfields that pose risks
to nearby low-income residential areas. When the
brownfields are cleaned up, they will become part of a
government and business office center that will include
a new City Hall, police and fire headquarters, facilities
for the county and school district, an amphitheater, open
space, and new residential, office, and retail develop-
                                                Solid Waste and
                                                Emergency Response
                                                (5105T)
                         EPA560-F-06-188
                         May 2006
                         www.epa.gov/brownfields

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ment. Brownfields redevelopment will eliminate health
risks, address environmental justice concerns, provide
new jobs, generate new property taxes, eliminate
blight, and retain downtown Visalia as a vibrant
community.

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