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EPA announces $800,000 funding to clean up and redevelop contaminated sites in communities across Oregon and Washington

Release Date: 07/15/2013
Contact Information: Suzanne Skadowski, EPA Public Affairs, 206-295-4829, skadowski.suzanne@epa.gov and Susan Morales, EPA Brownfields, 206-553-7299, morales.susan@epa.gov

(Seattle - July 15, 2013) Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $800,000 in supplemental funding to help clean up contaminated Brownfields properties across Oregon and Washington. The Revolving Loan Funding will help these communities carry out cleanup and redevelopment projects, creating jobs while protecting people’s health and the environment.

Revolving loan funds specifically supply funding for grant recipients to provide loans and sub-grants to carry out cleanup activities at Brownfields sites. When these loans are repaid, the loan amount is then returned to the fund and re-loaned to other borrowers, providing an ongoing source of capital within a community for additional cleanup of Brownfields sites.

In EPA Region 10, Brownfields Revolving Loan Funding is being awarded to:

• Washington Department of Commerce: $500,000 for low interest loans similar to recent loan and grants to a local nonprofit for Senior Housing Developments in the Rainier Valley, Seattle.
• Oregon Business Development Department: $300,000 for low interest loans or subgrants including a former Baker City machine shop that will be redeveloped, engaging local students, through a teacher’s leadership, in cleaning up and redeveloping a property for the community’s benefit.