Brownfields 2003 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet Reading, OH EPA Brownfields Program EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states. communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield 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. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism. Community Description The City of Reading was selected to receive an assessment grant. The City of Reading is a state-designated Enterprise Zone Community, and a locally designated Community Reinvestment Act Area and Urban Renewal Area. The city has experienced significant job losses in recent years. Between 1995 and 1998, Reading's largest employer moved one of its divisions, and its 600 high-paying jobs, to New Jersey. General Electric Aircraft Engine, which also employs many Reading residents, has cut 800 jobs since September 11, 2001. The total number of businesses in the city declined from 400 to 318 between 1998 and 2002. There are only four sites available to the city for development or redevelopment, and three have known or suspected contamination. The site targeted for assessment is located near an emerging biotech hub in an area in which a majority of residents are considered low- to moderate-income. Redevelopment plans include construction of buildings with 100,000-square feet of laboratory and office space, which could generate 300-400 new research and support jobs. Assessment Grant $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Reading for a brownfields assessment grant. The funds will be used to conduct a Phase II environmental site assessment on a former glass and box manufacturing plant site with suspected 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 (http://www.epa.gov/brownfields). EPA Region 5 Brownfields Team (312)886-7576 EPA Region 5 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfields) Grant Recipient: Reading, OH, City of (513)733-3725 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 negotiated. Therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC 20450 Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA500-F-03-166 Jun 03 ------- |