To: Board of Supervisors
From: John Kopchik, Director, Conservation and Development
Report Title: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Conservation and Development Director, or designee, to apply for and accept grant funding in an amount not to exceed $1,200,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant.
FISCAL IMPACT:
If awarded, the submission of the proposed grant materials is expected to result in a grant award of up to $1.2 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Department of Conservation and Development to fund the brownfields assessment as described in this staff report. There is no required match.
BACKGROUND:
On January 22, 2019, the Board of Supervisors adopted the Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative Strategic Action Plan. One of the goals in the Strategic Action Plan is to create a business environment that allows manufacturing firms to flourish and expand, and one of the objectives is to strengthen the Northern Waterfront as a premier location for advanced manufacturing by cleaning up and redeveloping brownfield sites, through potential funding sources identified in the Strategic Action Plan that include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Grant Programs.
In September 2024, the EPA released a solicitation for applications from jurisdictions seeking brownfields grant opportunities for Fiscal Year 2025. The brownfields coalition assessment grants are available only to counties or councils of governments as lead members and consist of one lead entity and 2 to 4 non-lead entities as coalition members. Brownfields coalition assessment grants provide up to $1.2 M for projects focused on identifying sites, reuse planning, community involvement, site assessments, and cleanup planning, with no match required. These funds are available over 4 years and can address properties in unincorporated Contra Costa County.
Given the multi-jurisdictional nature of the Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative, staff investigated opportunities with neighboring agencies for a collaborative approach to increase our chances of success. It is expected that brownfields coalition assessment grants will provide the funding for identifying sites, reuse planning, community involvement, and cleanup planning across multiple jurisdictions, including the unincorporated County, as the lead entity, and in the Cities of Antioch, Martinez, and Pinole, as non-lead coalition members. The three cities are supportive of the County’s proposal. In addition, Sustainable Contra Costa is a non-lead partner. Sustainable Contra Costa will be involved in hosting and sending out invitations to community meetings and sharing informational updates about the project. This information is being submitted to the Board with sufficient time to seek approval from the Board of Supervisors prior to the submittal deadline of November 14, 2024.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Failing to submit a grant application will prevent the Department of Conservation and Development from receiving a grant award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administration (EDA) to fund the brownfields assessment.