Southeastern Ohio Port Authority’s Post

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) selected six communities in Ohio to receive grants totaling $5.5 million in competitive EPA Brownfields funding through the multipurpose, assessment, and cleanup grant programs. In addition, the agency is announcing $1 million in supplemental funding to one existing, high-performing Brownfields revolving loan fund grant program to help expedite their continued work at sites in Ohio. Washington County has been selected to receive $1,500,000 to inventory sites and conduct a minimum of 25 Phase I and 12 Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to develop a minimum of five cleanup plans and area-wide plans and support community engagement activities. Assessment activities will focus on the Muskingum River Industrial Park in the village of Beverly, the D.O. Business Hall Center in the city of Cambridge, and the villages of Piketon and Beaver. Priority sites include a 60-acre former coal-fired power plant, a 140-acre parcel of mine-scarred land, and a former high school. Non-lead coalition members include the Pike County Board of Commissioners and the Cambridge-Guernsey County Community Improvement Corporation. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gEDdaDSX #WeAreOhioSE #Development #EconomicDevelopment #SoutheastOhio

In case you haven't heard the news yet, the EPA has selected MACOG to lead a Brownfields assessment coalition grant of $1,500,000 to update the brownfields inventory and conduct 27 Phase I and 35 Phase II environmental site assessments! Grant funds also will be used to conduct cleanup and reuse planning for 14 sites and support community engagement activities. Assessment activities will focus on cities and towns in a four-county region, including the town of Argos, and the cities of Elkhart, South Bend, Warsaw, and Plymouth. Priority sites include a 3,300-square-foot former gas station, a 15.9-acre former locomotive repair facility, and a 2.6-acre abandoned bulk oil storage facility. https://loom.ly/TLDgGPA

Incredible news for Colorado! The EPA has awarded over $8 million to six communities for environmental cleanup and redevelopment projects. This significant funding aims to transform contaminated sites into economic opportunities. For example, Northglenn will remediate a 7-acre property with high levels of lead and arsenic, preparing it for new uses. Greeley and Kersey will use their grants for environmental assessments and cleanup, respectively, with plans for new community amenities like a restaurant and brewery. Additional funds will support cleanup efforts in Pueblo, Monte Vista, and Lakewood, ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment for residents across the state. These projects not only address historical pollution but also lay the groundwork for future economic growth and community revitalization. Kudos to the EPA and local leaders for their commitment to making Colorado a cleaner, safer place to live and work. #EnvironmentalCleanup #EPA #Redevelopment

❗ 💧 🔧 The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates the US will need almost $900 billion in water investment over the next twenty years, plus hundreds of billions more for maintenance. These sums will burden federal, state and local budgets but also pose new opportunities—and risks—for investors in water projects. Join Penn IUR and the The Volcker Alliance for a #SpecialBriefing on America’s $900 Billion Water Crisis this Thursday, April 25 at 11:00am. Our panel of experts will include: -Senator Bill Bradley, former United States Senator, D-NJ; -Doug Evanson, executive vice president and chief financial officer, San Antonio Water System; -Howard Neukrug, PE, executive director, The Water Center at the University of Pennsylvania; -Nicole Lick, senior life scientist, water division, United States Environmental Protection Agency Mid-Atlantic Region; and -Reese Tisdale, president and chief executive officer, Bluefield Research. Learn more and register: ➡ https://bit.ly/3UbDsgR

#Iowa is getting federal help to eliminate lead water pipes in the state. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is working with local water agencies, planning where to prioritize funds. As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, cities and towns in Iowa are reducing the number of dangerous lead water lines. The Iowa Environmental Council's Director of Climate Initiatives Cody Smith, M.P.A. said even homes built as recently as 1988 are connected to the local water utility with lead lines - which leaves people at risk, even in Iowa's big cities like Des Moines and Council Bluffs. "Particularly with the most vulnerable groups, such as unborn babies or young children, they have extreme and outsize risk related to exposure to lead through lead service lines," said Smith. "That can cause higher levels of lead in the blood and lead to developmental issues for children." The State's Revolving Fund, which is the primary source for water infrastructure updates, has received more than $620 million as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The IEC says more than 700 communities have benefited so far. Beyond replacing lead pipes and updating water system infrastructure, Smith said Iowa could also benefit from help with what are known as non-point source projects. "Which is runoff from agricultural fields and from livestock operations that lead to nutrient pollution in source water," said Smith. "And source water is water that's used for drinking water somewhere in the state." Smith said those strategies can help farmers and local utilities reduce nitrates and other pollutants in the soil. The #Biden administration has a goal of replacing all lead water service lines in the U.S. by 2031.

💧💰🇺🇸 The Department of Interior announced a $41 million investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for 21 water resource and ecosystem health projects across 11 states. This funding, part of the WaterSMART program, will support instream restoration, canal improvements, and fish habitat enhancements. The investment aims to bolster water conservation, improve infrastructure, restore watersheds, and advance nature-based solutions to address drought and climate change impacts. This initiative is part of President Biden's broader Investing in America agenda, which includes a total $8.3 billion investment in water infrastructure projects over five years. #water #waterscarcity #innovation #future #sustainability #environment #investment #capital #climatechange #texas #houston  https://lnkd.in/gq5RViSD

We are 52 years from when the Clean Water Act resulted in $175 billion (adjusted for today’s dollar) investment in water infrastructure. That means that our water infrastructure is at the end of its lifespan and needs upgrades or replacement. Even the historic $50 billion in funding for water infrastructure from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law doesn’t cover the work that is needed. Infrastructure investments are hard. They are expensive. They are long term (and therefore don’t fit neatly into our election cycles). They are in many ways investments in the future, when we would rather fund projects with immediate benefits. Join me in a discussion of how we still need to make water infrastructure investments happen.

🎯 Did you know there’s a 1.8 in a million chance to hit a bullseye if you’ve never played darts before? The same can be said about brownfield redevelopment! At NJIT TAB, we’ve got the expertise to guide your community in crafting winning #brownfield #redevelopment #strategies that meet your unique needs. Whether you’re a first-timer or seasoned pro, we help increase your chances of success — because no one should rely on luck alone! 🎯 P.S. The FY25 US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfield Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is out now! Let’s hit that target together. #TABtuesday #BrownfieldRedevelopment #CommunityRevitalization #EPAgrants #UrbanPlanning #NJIT #CommunityGrowth #NoChargeSupport

What is a “Brownfield” and why does it matter? 🤷♀️ A brownfield is a site (like an old abandoned building) where the presence or potential presence of contamination makes reuse or redevelopment difficult. Many communities, including rural communities like Schuyler, Nebraska, often lack the resources to take on the redevelopment of these sites, or even to assess what might be there. This $500k US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Assessment Grant will help Schuyler determine what they might find inside these old buildings, like the municipal power plant, and come up with a reuse plan to benefit the community! #brownfields #thatspower #epa #region7 #grants #schuyler #nebraska

📣 FEDERAL Grant Alert: Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Program Apply now for the PROTECT Program, which will help build and maintain road, transit, port, and railway infrastructure that can better withstand severe weather events. PROTECT’s grant funding provides for the continued operation and quick recovery of these transportation systems after extreme weather and aims to inspire innovation and best practices that other regions can replicate and adopt. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4g2xCYL. Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors PA Chamber of Business and Industry Associated Pennsylvania Constructors ASHE National Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission Blair Planning Lehigh Valley Planning Commission York County Planning Commission Pennsylvania Municipal League TMA Bucks