SB, HI C3 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 In recent years, Chester's roads, canals, and railroads have been replaced by pharmaceutical and information technology companies.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 ------- |