The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 recently awarded Fort Dodge, Iowa, a $250,000 grant to clean up the Greenleaf Healthcare facility, a former nursing home rife with contaminants, including asbestos.

The funds will also be used to pay for community outreach for the project, including a website and public meetings; an EPA news release said this week. A ceremonial check was presented by DeAndré Singletary, director of the Region 7 Land, Chemical and Redevelopment Division. The event was also attended by Fort Dodge Mayor Matt Bemrich and Community and Economic Development Director Vickie Reeck.

"We are proud to once again partner with Fort Dodge, and we share their commitment to enhancing the lives of those who live near this site by cleaning up contamination and engaging with the community," Singletary said in the release. 

Reeck noted that Fort Dodge was pleased to be awarded the grant, which is part of $254.5 million in brownfields grants being awarded to 265 communities nationwide and backed by President Joe Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. 

Reeck also added that the funds are earmarked for the former nursing home facility, which is long overdue for a cleanup, the release said. The site has been vacant for nearly 10 years and is sliding further into disrepair, becoming an eyesore in the neighborhood.