Brownfields 2011 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet Arlin9ton, IA EPA Brownfields Program EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states. communities, and other stakeholders 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. In 2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act was passed to help states and communities around the country cleanup and revitalize brownfields sites. Under this 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. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism. Community Description The City of Arlington was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Located in northeast Iowa, Arlington (population 490) is a rural community that traditionally relied on agriculture and farming-related businesses to drive its economy. The targeted Arlington School site is located along the city's gateway corridor in a prominent location. The school was constructed in 1920 to meet the need for a centralized school for a growing rural population and an influx of new residents. In 1985, the school permanently closed its doors because of increasing maintenance costs and other needed investments. The city has a lower per capita income and higher poverty rate than the state. Cleanup of the target site will reduce contamination threats and is expected to allow the city to move forward with plans to redevelop the site into a 4,500-square-foot community center to provide entertainment and a meeting place for residents. Cleanup Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the City of Arlington for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up the former Arlington School at 940 Liberty Street. The site was constructed in 1920 and operated as a school until the early 1980s. The site is contaminated with inorganic materials. Grant funds also will be used to conduct 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 (http://www.epa.gov/brownfields) . EPA Region 7 Brownfields Team (800) 223-0425 EPA Region 7 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/region7/cle anup/brownfields Grant Recipient: City of Arlington, Iowa 817-459-6657 The information presented in this fact sheet comes from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. The cooperative agreement for the grant has not yet been negotiated. Therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC 20450 Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA560-F-128-104 May 2011 ------- |