Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on May 20, 2024, that it will award $500,000 in grants for the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in Nebraska. This initiative is part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, which aims to address legacy pollution, advance environmental justice, and create healthier communities.
The funding comes from a $1.5 billion investment into brownfield sites through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The grant programs aim to transform once-polluted, vacant, and abandoned properties into community assets while creating jobs and spurring economic revitalization in overburdened communities.
Schuyler Community Development in Nebraska was selected to receive $500,000 in competitive EPA Brownfields funding through Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup (MAC) Grant programs. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan announced the awards alongside Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and U.S. Representative Mary Gay Scanlon at a local brownfield site near Bartram’s Mile.
President Joe Biden said: “Far too many communities across America have suffered the harmful economic and health consequences of living near polluted brownfield sites. Under my Administration, we are making that a reality by ensuring the historic resources from my Investing in America Agenda reach communities that need it most."
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan added: “President Biden sees contaminated sites and blighted areas as an opportunity to invest in healthier, revitalized communities.”
EPA Region 7 Administrator Meghan A. McCollister expressed pride in delivering these Brownfields funding resources to partner organizations across Nebraska.
Schuyler Community Development Housing Specialist Brian Bywater expressed gratitude for the opportunity to utilize EPA Brownfields funding to help assess and revitalize their historic downtown area.
Nebraska Department of Economic Development Director K.C. Belitz congratulated Schuyler on winning a Brownfields Assessment Grant to improve the downtown historic district.
The EPA’s Brownfields program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. Approximately 86% of the MAC and Revolving Loan Fund Supplemental program applications selected for funding proposed to work in areas that include disadvantaged communities.
The EPA’s Brownfields program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.7 billion in Brownfields Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse.
