Press Releases
President Obama’s FY 2011 Budget Will Help Clean Up Brownfields and Revitalize Communities Nationwide
Littleton, CO (March 5, 2010) – Great momentum is on the rise for the Colorado Brownfields Foundation (CBF) and other organizations around the country working to remove environmental obstacles to economic and community development in America. CBF commends the Obama Administration for its commitment to reclaiming and revitalizing brownfields, supporting sustainability, and addressing the needs of underserved communities with the release of the President’s FY 2011 Budget.
President Obama provided $215 million to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to expand brownfields cleanup and integrated area-wide planning activities. This $41.5 million increase is aimed at initiating 20 community-level brownfields projects that will promote area-wide planning in underserved and economically disadvantaged communities. EPA will provide direct technical assistance to help communities implement environmental improvements identified in area-wide plans. According to CBF Executive Director Jesse Silverstein, “This funding coincides with CBF’s focus to provide technical assistance to communities working to clean up contaminated sites for economic development. We’re implementing such a plan right now throughout Colorado and the region to reach underserved and rural areas to improve and sustain their communities.”
The President’s Budget for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development also includes important new funding sources. The Catalytic Investment Program, aimed at funding strategic projects that will stimulate economic vitality in underserved communities, includes a focus on reclaiming vacant properties. Brownfields projects are also expected to be among the eligible uses for grants made available through HUD’s Sustainable Communities Initiative.
“In today’s economic climate, the President’s Budget reflects a needed focus on creating healthy, economically viable communities, particularly in those distressed communities that most need assistance”, said National Brownfields Coalition Coordinator Evans Paull. Brownfields cleanup and revitalization helps create jobs, promote equitable and sustainable development, and protect human health and the environment. The President’s Budget moves these important priorities forward.”
Geoff Anderson, Executive Director of Smart Growth America, tried to dispel any notion that cleaning up brownfields in the middle of a real estate recession could be a wasted effort. “On the contrary,” Anderson stated, “This is the perfect time to clean up brownfields. Brownfields have a longer lead time before they are development-ready, and investing now will mean that we’ll have more sites ready to accommodate growth in a responsible and sustainable fashion when the real estate market is ready to grow again.”
Colorado Brownfields Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Colorado nonprofit organization dedicated to removing environmental obstacles to economic and community development. CBF partners with communities, local governments, other non profits, and commercial enterprises to help reuse and redevelop brownfields sites.
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