The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $1 million grant award on May 20, 2024, to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in Dover, Delaware. The grant is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and is aimed at advancing environmental justice.
The funds are part of a larger $1.5 billion investment into Brownfields sites from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which seeks to address legacy pollution, advance environmental justice, and create healthier communities.
The Downtown Dover Partnership has been selected by the EPA for a Brownfields Multipurpose Grant funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The grant will be used to conduct environmental site assessments, prioritize brownfield sites, and engage with the community in Dover's downtown area.
In addition to this, the funds will also be utilized for cleaning up a former foundry and vacant building at 680-684 Forest Street and a former dry cleaner and parking lot located at 127-145 South Governors Avenue.
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan announced the awards in Philadelphia alongside Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, U.S. Representative Dwight Evans (PA-03), and U.S. Representative Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05). "President Biden sees contaminated sites and blighted areas as an opportunity to invest in healthier, revitalized communities," said Regan.
"Today’s announcement invests more than $26 million across the mid-Atlantic to support the revitalization of brownfields,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz.
Many economically stressed communities lack resources needed for brownfield cleanup and redevelopment projects. However, once these sites are transformed into community assets, they attract jobs, promote economic revitalization and transform communities into sustainable places.
The historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is helping more communities address economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields while stimulating economic opportunity and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.
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. The Brownfields Program strives to meet this commitment and advance environmental justice and equity considerations in all aspects of its work.
The EPA anticipates making all the awards announced today once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. The Brownfields Program, which began in 1995, has provided nearly $2.7 billion in grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse.
For more information on EPA’s Brownfields Program visit EPA’s Brownfields webpage.
