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  Brownfields  2008

  Grant Fact Sheet

              Perry,  IA


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 this 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 programs through
a separate mechanism.

Community Description

The City of Perry was selected to receive a
brownfields  cleanup grant. Located in central Iowa,
Perry (population 7,693) grew around the railroad
industry in the early 1900s as railroad employees
established residences in nearby neighborhoods. As the
railroad phased out operations in Perry, railroad
property and adjacent areas experienced disinvestment
and economic decline. About 24 percent of the city's
residents are Hispanic, and the poverty rate is 12
percent. The Roundhouse property has reduced
surrounding property values, and on-site contaminants
pose risks to the adjacent Raccoon River, a significant
source of potable water for Perry and the Des Moines
metropolitan area. Cleanup of the site is expected to
reduce environmental contamination and leverage
additional investment in nearby areas. The city plans to
 Cleanup Grant
 $200,000 for hazardous substances
 EPA has selected the City of Perry for a
 brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances
 grant funds will be used to clean up the former
 Roundhouse property at 1 Court Street between St.
 Paul and Park Streets on  the city's west side.
 Beginning in the early 1900s, the site was used by
 the railroad industry for maintenance activities and
 storage. It is contaminated with polynuclear
 aromatic hydrocarbons and metals. Grant funds
 also will be used to support community involvement
 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
 800-223-0425
 http://www.epa.gov/region7/cleanup/brownfields

 Grant Recipient: City of Perry, IA
 515-465-2481

 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.
reuse the site for a recreational trail and an interpre-
tive center that will preserve the historic impact of
railroads in central Iowa.
                                                   Solid Waste and
                                                   Emergency Response
                                                   (5105T)
                         EPA560-F-08-167
                         April 2008
                         www.epa.gov/brownfields

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