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                            HI
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 Brownfields  2003

 Grant Fact  Sheet

          Oshkosh,  Wl


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 Oshkosh was selected to receive an
assessment grant. Oshkosh (population 63,000) is
located on the western shore of Lake Winnebago in
east-central Wisconsin. The city is in the process of
redeveloping its downtown area and properties located
along the Fox River. In the early- to mid-1900s, this
area was the industrial center of the city. Industrial
facilities ranged from lumber mills to foundries. Cur-
rently, many of the industries along the Fox River have
either gone  out of business or relocated, leaving
blighted industrial areas close to the Fox River, which is
an underused asset to the city. Four of five census
tracts in the targeted redevelopment area are low- to
moderate-income areas. Redevelopment plans include
the creation of a bike and walk trail system, riverside
parks, walkways, and an extension of Winnebago
County's Wiowash recreational trail.
                                    Assessment Grant
                                     $200,000 for hazardous substances
                                     $200,000 for petroleum

                                     EPA has selected the City of Oshkosh for a
                                     brownfields assessment grant. The funds will be
                                     used to update the city's brownfields inventory,
                                     conduct Phase I and Phase II environmental site
                                     assessments, and conduct community outreach
                                     programs. The city will assess properties con-
                                     taminated with hazardous substances and
                                     petroleum in the Marion/Pearl Redevelopment
                                     Area, the Riverside Park Redevelopment Area,
                                     and on the south side of the Fox River.
                                     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 Oshkosh, WI
                                    920-236-5057

                                    Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, the City
                                    of Oshkosh has received brownfields funding for an
                                    assessment grant.

                                    The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been
                                    negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet
                                    are subject to change.
                                                  Solid Waste and
                                                  Emergency Response
                                                  (5105T)
                                                           EPA500-F-03-156
                                                           June 2003
                                                           www.epa.gov/brownfields

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