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  Brownfields  2006

  Grant  Fact Sheet

      Philadelphia,  PA


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 Philadelphia was selected to receive a
brownfields assessment grant. Philadelphia (popula-
tion 1,517,550) is a federally recognized Empower-
ment Zone and Renewal Community and the fifth
largest city in the country. More than half of
Philadelphia's residents are minorities, and nearly 23
percent of the population live below the poverty level.
The city has many small brownfields, often located
next to residential neighborhoods. Many low-income
and minority communities in the city are dispropor-
tionately impacted by brownfields sites. Abandoned
and underutilized properties have hindered economic
development, and impacted the human and economic
health of the city. Once brownfields sites have been
assessed and prioritized for redevelopment, the city
will begin cleanup and reuse planning activities.
 Assessment Grant
 $200,000 for hazardous substances
 EPA has selected the City of Philadelphia for a
 brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous sub-
 stances grant funds will be used to conduct Phase
 I and II environmental site assessments and
 perform community outreach. Ten percent of the
 assessment grant funds will be reserved for the
 creation of greenspace.
 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 3 Brownfields Team
 215-814-3129
 http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bfs/index.htm

 Grant Recipient: City of Philadelphia, PA
 215-683-2028

 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
 yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
 in this fact sheet are subject to change.
Brownfields redevelopment will initiate economic
revitalization, provide housing, create employment
opportunities, contribute to the tax base, and provide a
sense of community.
                                                 Solid Waste and
                                                 Emergency Response
                                                 (5105T)
                         EPA 560-F-06-055
                         May 2006
                         www.epa.gov/brownfields

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