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                           Brownfields
                           Supplemental  Assistance
                           Twin Cities Metropolitan  Council,  MN
BACKGROUND

EPA awarded the Twin Cities Metropolitan Council
(TCMC) supplemental assistance for its Brownfields
Assessment Demonstration Pilot. The TCMC oversees
redevelopment for the Twin Cities seven-county
metropolitan area(population2.2 million), whichincludes
the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. TCMC has formed
a partnership with the Minnesota Environmental Initiative
(MEI) and the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity to create
a model for developing multi-unit affordable housing on
brownfields. There is a great need for affordable housing
in the area. There are over 185,000 households in the area
with annual incomes below $30,000 that are paying over
30% of their income for housing. In addition, there are
68,900 renter households with annual incomes below
$10,000, but only 31,200 affordable rental units at this
income level.

The goal of the TCMC is to positively influence land use
in Minnesota by making redevelopment of contaminated
properties an attractive option for non-profit organizations.
Under the original EPA Pilot, TCMC has completed the
assessment of seven properties. Four affordable homes
have been built on these properties by Twin Cities Habitat
for Humanity. The program is a model for turning small,
single-property brownfields into opportunities for non-
profit organizations to build affordable housing. In addition,
the efforts  of the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity to
revitalize brownfields will serve as a model for other
Habitat for Humanity affiliates throughout the country.

OBJECTIVES AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES

This supplemental grant will be used to expand the original
Pilot to build the capability of other non-profit organizations
to redevelop brownfields for a variety of community
revitalizationuses,suchas community centers, recreational
space, and energy efficient buildings. Supplemental
assistance will be used to provide financial and technical
assistance for environmental  assessments  and
   PILOT SNAPSHOT
    Twin Cities Metropolitan
    Council, Minnesota
Date of Announcement:
May 2002


Amount: $150,000

Profile: The Twin Cities
Metropolitan Council,  in
partnership with the Minnesota
Environmental Initiative and
various non-profitorganizations,
will target and assess properties
for reuses thatfeature innovative
designs consistent with
preservation of affected
neighborhoods.
   Contacts:

   Twin Cities Metropolitan
   Council
   (651)602-1406
Regional Brownfields Team
U.S. EPA Region 5
(312)353-2513
        Visit the E PA Region 5 Brownfields web site at:
          http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfields/

      Forfurtherinformation,includingspecific Pilot contacts,
    additional Pilot information, brownfields news and events, and
    publications and links, visit the EPA Brownfields web site at:
             www.epa.gov/brownfields

investigations. Non-profit organizations that are accepted
into this project will work with the TCMC and MEI's
Resources for Redevelopment (R4R) to select, assess,
and investigate sites for redevelopment. Projects that
feature innovative designs consistent with preservation of
affected neighborhoods will be accepted into the project.

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Activities planned as part of this Pilot include:

• Selecting at least six properties and conducting Phase I
  assessments;

• Preparing Phase II work plans and conducting Phase II
  assessments on two of the properties;

• Coordinating and communicating with all partners and
  interested parties throughout the process; and

• Conducting community outreach  and involvement
  activities.
ThecooperativeagreementforthisPilothasnotyetbeennegotiated;therefore,
activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change.
                                                               Solid Waste             EPA 500-F-02-099
                                                               and Emergency         May 2002
                                                               Response (5105)        www.epa.gov/brownfields/

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