Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced an $8,485,900 grant award as part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in Iowa, with a focus on advancing environmental justice. The funds are part of a $1.5 billion investment into brownfield sites from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law aimed at addressing legacy pollution, advancing environmental justice, and creating healthier communities.
These investments will be channeled through EPA’s Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup (MAC) Grant programs and Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant programs. The goal is to transform once-polluted, vacant, and abandoned properties into community assets while creating jobs and spurring economic revitalization in overburdened communities.
Two communities in Iowa have been selected to receive grants totaling over $5,485,900 in competitive EPA Brownfields funding through MAC Grant programs. Additionally, the Agency is announcing $3 million in supplemental funding to existing high-performing Brownfields RLF Grant programs to help expedite their continued work at sites in Iowa.
“Far too many communities across America have suffered the harmful economic and health consequences of living near polluted brownfield sites,” said President Joe Biden. “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."
“President Biden sees contaminated sites and blighted areas as an opportunity to invest in healthier, revitalized communities,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.
“This needed investment will boost public health and economic development across Iowa by transforming once-polluted sites into thriving community assets,” said U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (IA).
The City of Keokuk has been selected to receive $4,485,900 for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The City of Waterloo has been selected to receive $1 million for a Brownfields Multipurpose Grant also funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The East Central Intergovernmental Association’s Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) has been selected to receive an additional $3 million through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), as it has a high-performing RLF program with significantly depleted funds.
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. The historic $1.5 billion investment from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has increased that yearly investment nearly 400%.
