8 HI C3 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 ------- |