5 o T> Brownfields 2008 Grant Fact Sheet Minneapolis, MN 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 Minneapolis was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Located in southeast- ern Minnesota, Minneapolis (population 382,618) is focusing its brownfields efforts on three project areas that are within federally designated Empowerment Zones: Bassett Creek Valley/Heritage Park, North Washington Industrial Park, and Franklin Street LRT Station. The Minneapolis-Saint Paul region's overall strong economy is not evenly distributed throughout the city. Neighborhoods in the three project areas are among the poorest in the Twin Cities region, with poverty rates from 34 to 38 percent and unemployment rates from 13 to 16.6 percent. In contrast, Hennepin County as a whole has a poverty rate of 3.9 percent and an unemployment rate of 2.3 percent. In the project neighborhoods, 66 percent of residents are Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Minneapolis for two brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous sub- stances grant funds will be used to perform from five to six Phase I and two to five Phase II envi- ronmental site assessments in three project areas: Bassett Creek Valley/Heritage Park, North Wash- ington Industrial Park, and Franklin Street LRT Station. Grant funds also will be used to support community outreach activities. Petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct 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 Minneapolis, MN 612-673-5181 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. minorities. Former industries in these neighborhoods include metal platers, scrap metal recyclers, and used oil and solvent recyclers. Brownfields assessments are expected to promote brownfields reuse that is consis- tent with the Master Plans for these communities. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA560-F-08-123 April 2008 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |