Washington – Senator Evan Bayh today announced that Indiana will receive $2.86 million to clean up and revitalize brownfield areas. The funds were awarded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Brownfields Program.

The grants will help improve abandoned and underused industrial and commercial lands by cleaning and restoring them for future use in Indiana communities. The Indiana Finance Authority will receive $2.5 million for the Indiana Revolving Loan Fund, while the City of South Bend has been awarded $360,000 for a brownfield revolving loan. 

“This funding will make Indiana communities more livable and put Hoosiers back to work,” Bayh said. “Reinvesting Indiana tax dollars back into these community development projects will help stimulate economic growth, safeguard our environment and create middle-class jobs across our state.”

Brownfields are abandoned or underused industrial and commercial areas whose rehabilitation may be complicated by the presence of a hazardous pollutant or contaminant. Cleaning up these properties protects the environment, reduces blight, and takes development pressures off green spaces and working lands.

The EPA’s Brownfields Program provides direct funding for assessment, cleanup, loan assistance and environmental job training.

Funding is provided for grant recipients to:

•    conduct planning and community involvement related to brownfield sites;
•    carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites;
•    train residents in communities impacted by brownfields; and
•    provide research and technical assistance for brownfields revitalization.

A full list of the EPA brownfield funding for Indiana is below:

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