*This piece was originally released through the city of Kansas City, Mo.
The City of Kansas City, Mo., is pleased to announce that the City has been named the recipient of a $500,000 EPA Grant for the assessment of brownfields sites throughout Kansas City. A brownfield site is real property which is being underutilized due to the presence, or potential presence, of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. This grant will aid Kansas City in the assessment and clean-up of any possible hazardous materials located at brownfields sites within the City; the assessment of these sites is the first step in preparation for expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of thousands of brownfields sites throughout the city, which are dependent on the clean-up of hazardous materials.
“The brownfields grant funding will help Kansas City address needs at thousands of vacant properties in Kansas City and in Jackson County,” said Andrew Bracker, Brownfields Coordinator. “These properties cause devastating harm in disadvantaged neighborhoods and commercial and industrial areas; addressing the needs at these locations is essential for initiating revitalization projects in Kansas City.”
Kansas City will use these funds for the assessment of thousands of vacant properties in Kansas City and Jackson County. The funds will help support the work of the Land Bank in the sale and redevelopment of its inventory, and will help boost targeted revitalization projects.
“Assessing and addressing the needs at Kansas City’s brownfields sites will help Land Bank to prepare properties for expansion and redevelopment,” said Ted Anderson, Executive Director for Kansas City LandBank. “Redevelopment of brownfields sites in Kansas City will stimulate commercial and housing construction, create jobs, build safe places to walk and recreate, boost local food production, and remove contaminants and health risks—it’s a very important initiative for our City.”
As part of the awarded brownfields assessment coalition grant, Kansas City will conduct up to seven Phase I and six Phase II environmental site assessments, and up to five area-wide Phase I environmental site assessments in targeted neighborhoods. Community-wide petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct five Phase I and three Phase II environmental site assessments, and one area-wide Phase I environmental site assessment in a commercial corridor. Grant funds of both types also will be used to produce an inventory of an estimated 18,000 vacant properties and conduct community outreach. Coalition partners are Jackson County and the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of Kansas City. This grant will focus on brownfields in Kansas City and throughout Jackson County.
About EPA’s 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. 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
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Media inquiries should be directed to Brownfield Coordinator, Andrew Bracker at 816-513-3002.