Brownfields 2009 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet
               Elkhart, IN
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 Elkhart was selected to receive a brownfields
assessment grant. Located in northern Indiana, Elkhart
(population 51,874) has a prominent industrial heritage
dating back to the 1800s. As manufacturing declined in
recent years, historic industries relocated or ceased
operations, and older industrial properties were abandoned
or are underused. The city has identified about 112
brownfields, including 67 hazardous substances
brownfields and 10 condemned methamphetamine lab
sites. More recently, downsizing and closings of Elkhart's
numerous recreational vehicle plants have added to the
economic downturn. Poverty and unemployment rates
exceed those of the county and state. Assessment of
brownfields is expected to facilitate site cleanup and
redevelopment that will create jobs and increase tax
revenues.
                     Assessment Grant

                     $200,000 for hazardous substances

                     EPA has selected the City of Elkhart for a
                     brownfields assessment grant. Community-wide
                     hazardous substances grant funds will be used to
                     inventory brownfields, and conduct 5 to 10 Phase I
                     environmental site assessments, 3 to 5 clandestine
                     methamphetamine lab assessments, and 5 to 15
                     Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant
                     funds also will be used to perform 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 5 Brownfields Team
                     (312)886-7576
                     EPA Region 5 Brownfields Web site
                     (http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfiel ds)

                     Grant Recipient: City of Elkhart,IN
                     (574) 294-5471

                     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-09-146
      May 2009

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