SB, HI C3 Brownfields 2003 Grant Fact Sheet East Palo Alto, CA 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. Addi- tionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism. Community Description The City of East Palo Alto was selected to receive an assessment grant. The city has targeted the Bay- Clarke Project Area for assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment. The Bay-Clarke area is in the 130-acre Ravenswood Industrial Area. While currently blighted by auto wrecking yards and other industrial properties, the project area holds promise for meeting the city's urgent needs for housing and nonprofit office space. The city is working with a partnership of public, private, and nonprofit partners to develop the Bay- Clarke area into housing and a Community Resource Center. The poverty rate is three times the county average and the unemployment rate is 11 percent. The assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment of Bay- Assessment Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of East Palo Alto for a brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be used to conduct further assessments at sites contaminated by hazardous substances and petroleum in the Bay-Clarke Project Area. Initial assessments of properties in this area were conducted six years ago under a previous brownfields assessment grant, and there is considerable concern that contamination of these parcels may have increased since that time. 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 9 Brownfields Team 415-972-3188 http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/brown/ Grant Recipient: City of East Palo Alto, CA 650-853-3100 Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, the City of East Palo Alto has received brownfields funding for assessment, Showcase Community, and revolving loan fund grants. The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. Clarke area sites will help create a mixed-use commu- nity center that will serve family needs and be the cornerstone of the future revitalization of the Ravenswood Industrial Area. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 500-F-03-088 June 2003 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |