I JBt? | Brownfields 2004 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet
Cedar Rapids, I A
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. 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. Additionally, funding support is provided
to state and tribal response programs through a separate
mechanism.
Community Description
The City of Cedar Rapids was selected to receive two
brownfields cleanup grants. The target neighborhood
(population 1,842) near downtown Cedar Rapids
(population 120,758) is a former enclave of Czech
immigrants. As this ethnic population became more
integrated into the general society, the area lost its
community image and the corresponding services. Today,
the target area is 31 percent minority, the median
household income is 65 percent less than the city median,
24.5 percent of the families live below the poverty line,
and the unemployment rate is 14 percent. Both sites will
become part of a larger revitalization effort. Sinclair
Square, a 45,000 square foot mixed-use facility with a
community center, senior center, market, city recreational
offices, and small business, will be built on the old iron
works property. Associated development is planned for
the old steel site.
Cleanup Grant
$4,000,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Cedar Rapids for two
brownfields cleanup grants. Hazardous substances
funds will be used to clean up two neighboring
sites, the former Iowa Iron Works and Iowa Steel
properties, located at 400 and 415 12th Avenue,
SE. The sites are contaminated with arsenic,
polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, lead, oil, and
perchloroethylene. Once they are cleaned up, the
sites will be redeveloped to accommodate retail,
public services, housing, and recreational facilities.
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 Cedar Rapids, IA
City of Cedar Rapids
(319) 286-5046
City of Cedar Rapids
(319) 286-5046
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	c
Environmental	anri Fmpflpn™	EPA 560-F-04-030
Protection Agency	Response (5105T)	June 2004
Washington, DC 20450	Kesponse (si us )

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