I jBt; | Brownfields 2011 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet
Fort WaYne>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 Fort Wayne was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Located in northeastern
Indiana, Fort Wayne (population 205,727) was once
known as a manufacturing center but has lost almost
7,000 manufacturing jobs in the past five years. Job losses
continue to rise as companies relocate and downsize. The
city's unemployment rate ranges from nine to 11 percent.
The city's 2010 budget was reduced by $1.8 million, and
future budget reductions are anticipated because of
reduced property tax revenues, business closures, and
declining economic conditions. The city will target areas
of high poverty, high building vacancy rates, and blight.
According to the state, there are nearly 400 leaking
underground storage tanks and 95 hazardous waste
generators in the city. Assessment of brownfields will
allow the city to identify contaminated areas, develop
cleanup plans, and increase public awareness about and
participation in the brownfields program.
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the City of Fort Wayne for two
brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide
hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds
will be used to inventory and prioritize sites and
perform seven to 10 Phase I and nine to 12 Phase
II environmental site assessments. Grant funds
also will be used to conduct community outreach
and cleanup planning 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 Fort Wayne,IN
260-427-1127
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)
EPA 560-F-128-070
May 2011

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