News Update
Federal brownfields funding announced for Florida communities
Staff repoort
Enviro-Net
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency selected 149 communities across the country--including six in Florida--to receive funding for brownfield site revitalization to help local governments redevelop vacant and unused properties, transforming communities and local economies.
The following communities in Florida were selected to receive grant funding for community-wide Brownfields assessment activities and cleanup planning:
• City of Brooksville - $300,000 assessment grant ($100,000 for hazardous substances and $200,000 for petroleum) will be used to conduct 16 Phase I and five Phase II environmental site assessments.
• City of Jacksonville - $300,000 assessment grant ($150,000 for hazardous substances and $150,000 for petroleum) will be used to conduct 12 Phase I and six Phase II environmental site assessments.
• City of Palatka - $300,000 assessment grant ($200,000 for hazardous substances and $100,000 for petroleum) will be used to conduct nine Phase I and two Phase II environmental site assessments at priority sites and prepare two to three cleanup plans, including the City Public Works facility. \
• Pinellas County - $300,000 assessment grant ($150,000 for hazardous substances and $150,000 for petroleum) targeting the Lealman Community Redevelopment Area, the community-wide hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct 12 Phase I and eight Phase II environmental site assessments.
• Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council - $600,000 assessment grant ($300,000 for hazardous substances and $300,000 for petroleum) will be used to conduct 30 Phase I and 10 Phase II environmental site assessments, starting with priority sites.
• University Area Community Development Corporation Inc., Tampa - $300,000 assessment grant ($150,000 for hazardous substances and $150,000 for petroleum) will be used to conduct six Phase I and three Phase II environmental site assessments.
One hundred and eight communities selected for grants this year have identified sites or targeted areas in census tracts designated as federal Opportunity Zones.
An Opportunity Zone is an economically-distressed community where new investment, under certain conditions, may be eligible for preferential tax treatment. All the communities in Florida that were selected to receive Brownfields grants have sites designated in an Opportunity Zone.