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Brownfields 2003
Grant Fact Sheet
Chester County Industrial
Development Authority, PA
EPA Brownfields Program
EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, commu-
nities, and other stakeholders in economic development
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 Chester County Industrial Development Authority
was selected to receive a revolving loan fund grant.
Chester County (population 433,000) is comprised of
73 municipalities located on 756-square miles in
southeastern Pennsylvania. The county's population
has grown by more than 15 percent since 1990,
spurred in part by the region's historic and cultural
heritage. In recent years, Chester's roads, canals, and
railroads have been replaced by pharmaceutical and
information technology companies. The urban centers
have been left with old industrial sites, flagging econo-
mies, substandard housing, and elevated unemployment
rates. The brownfields targeted for this grant all have
histories of heavy industrial use, often dating back 200
years. Cleanup loans will be provided to the county's
hardest hit communities, including Coatesville,
Revolving Loan Fund
Grant
$265,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the Chester County Industrial
Development Authority for a brownfields revolv-
ing loan fund grant. The grant will be used to
capitalize a revolving loan fund from which the
industrial development authority will provide
loans and subgrants to conduct cleanup activities
at petroleum-contaminated sites in disadvantaged
communities throughout the county. Grant funds
also will be used to conduct community involve-
ment and outreach 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 3 Brownfields Team
215-814-3129
http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bfs/index.htm
Grant Recipient: Chester County Industrial
Development Authority, PA
610-458-5700
Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, the
Chester County Industrial Development Authority has not
received brownfields grant funding. Chester County has
received brownfields funding for assessment grants.
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been
negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet
are subject to change.
Downingtown, and Kennett Square. These communi-
ties have some of the county's highest poverty rates
and greatest percentage of minorities. Cleaning up
brownfields in these blighted, urbanized areas will
facilitate redevelopment, thereby creating jobs, attract-
ing investment, and stimulating local economies.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 500-F-03-067
June 2003
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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