HI C3 Brownfields 2003 Grant Fact Sheet Fostoria, OH 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 Fostoria was selected to receive an assessment grant. Fostoria (population 13,931) is located in northwest Ohio, approximately 40 miles south of Toledo. Fostoria's history is intertwined with the emergence and prosperity of the nation's great railroads. Over the past 150 years, this small Midwest- ern city developed a solid manufacturing economy supported by its transportation lifeline, the railroads. However, like many Rust Belt communities, the city has lost much of its economic base as manufacturing firms that once formed the backbone of the local economy downsized or closed down. Fostoria contin- ues to lose jobs and population. The residential neigh- borhood north of the Iron Triangle has been designated as an environmental justice area due to the dispropor- Assessment Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances $ 100,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Fostoria for a brownfields assessment grant. The city intends to use grant funds to identify, prioritize, and assess up to a dozen brownfields in an area of the city known as "The Iron Triangle," where three sets of railroad tracks converge. Grant funds also will be used to conduct human health risk assessments and community 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 5 Brownfields Team 312-886-7576 http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfields/ Grant Recipient: City of Fostoria, OH 419-435-7789 Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, the City of Fostoria has not received brownfields grant funding. The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. tionate number of potentially contaminated sites located nearby. The 12 targeted sites within the proposed project area are located near a planned train museum and visitor center, which the city hopes will attract visitors, investment, businesses, and new jobs to the Iron Triangle. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 500-F-03-096 June 2003 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |