U.S. EPA Announces $600,000 Grant to Toledo for Environmental Assessments

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that the city of Toledo will receive a $600,000 brownfields assessment grant.

The U.S. EPA selected 144 communities for brownfields environmental assessment, revolving loan fund, and cleanup grants. The grants total $54.3 million and provide communities with funding to assess, clean up, and redevelop underutilized properties while protecting public health and the environment. The Brownfields Program provides funding and assistance to transform blighted sites into assets that can generate jobs and spur economic growth.

“Toledo is fortunate to have such a strong partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and much of Toledo’s brownfield redevelopment success can be directly related to that relationship,” Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said. “This $600,000 grant for environmental assessments is a great win for the people of Toledo. The U.S. EPA’s Brownfield Programs have played an integral role in the city’s economic development and reclaiming land. Every area of our city has benefited from U.S. EPA assistance and we need more of these kinds of programs in the United States.”

“This will be the 20th grant from U.S. EPA to the city of Toledo over the 20-year history of the Brownfield Program and that is an amazing testament to the partnership between the city and the federal agency,” said Bill Burkett, commissioner of economic and business development for the city of Toledo. “We are fortunate to have coalition partners like the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority and the Lucas County Land Bank, who work with us to find solutions for redevelopment.”

"Returning brownfield sites to productive use must be one of our highest neighborhood priorities, and we are thrilled to partner with the city of Toledo to tap into these critical U.S. EPA funds," said David Mann, president and chief executive officer of the Lucas County Land Bank.

The first project in Toledo funded by the 1998 grant was for property at 600 Bassett St., which is now the Toledo Public Schools Chase STEM school.

For more information regarding this grant, please follow the links below.

2018 Applicants Selected for Funding

ARC Grant Information

EPA's Brownfield Program Information

Brownfields Restoration Success Stories