The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $5.5 million in Brownfields Grants to five Iowa communities as part of a $267 million national investment to clean up and redevelop contaminated sites.
Grant recipients include:
- Clinton – $1.09M to clean up the former YMCA site.
- ECIA – $1.5M to expand its revolving loan fund supporting cleanups in eastern Iowa.
- Keokuk – Nearly $2M for environmental cleanup of a former smelting site.
- Le Mars – $400K for environmental site assessments and redevelopment planning.
- Red Oak – $500K to assess sites along the Broadway Corridor.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the program supports both environmental health and economic growth, calling it part of “the Great American Comeback.” Iowa officials praised the funding as a major step forward for revitalizing rural communities and spurring local development.
