HI
                            C3
 Brownfields  2003

 Grant Fact Sheet

            Marion,  IA



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. Addition-
ally, funding support is provided to state and tribal
response programs through a separate mechanism.

Community Description

The City of Marion was selected to receive an assess-
ment grant. Marion is a small city (population 26,300),
and 17 percent of families have incomes below the
poverty level.  The sites targeted for  assessment are
located within Marion's Central Corridor, the gateway
to the city. The Central Corridor once was a vibrant
railroad corridor providing economic opportunity and
jobs for many residents. It is now characterized by
inconsistent land uses, run-down buildings and residen-
tial dwellings, underused properties, and the presence
of real or perceived contamination. Many industries
once located in the Central Corridor have moved to
other areas, adversely affecting the value of surround-
ing neighborhoods. Many segments of the community
  Assessment Grant
   $200,000 for hazardous substances
   $200,000 for petroleum

   EPA has selected the City of Marion for a
   brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will
   be used to conduct Phase I and Phase II assess-
   ments of sites contaminated by hazardous
   substances and petroleum in the city's Central
   Corridor. Potential sites include abandoned
   railroad facilities, old industrial facilities, and auto
   salvaging yards. The city also will use grant
   funds to conduct community outreach.
   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 7 Brownfields Team
  913-551-7786
  http://www.epa.gov/region07/brownfields/

  Grant Recipient: City of Marion, IA
  319-377-1581

  Prior to receipt of these grant funds in fiscal year 2003, the
  City of Marion 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.
came together to chart a new course for the corridor,
including development of the Central Corridor Revital-
ization Plan.
                                                   Solid Waste and
                                                   Emergency Response
                                                   (5105T)
                         EPA500-F-03-129
                         June 2003
                         www.epa.gov/brownfields

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