EPA Press Office:

EPA awards $1 million to the City of Monte Vista for cleanup and redevelopment projects

Brownfields grant funding to the City of Monte Vista aimed to address property contamination, spur economic revitalization, and redevelop historic buildings

Contacts 

U.S. EPA: Honor Morgan, morgan.honor@epa.gov 

City of Monte Vista: DJ Enderle, 719-852-8288, denderle@ci.monte-vista.co.us  

 

MONTE VISTA, Colo. (May 20, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the City of Monte Vista will receive $1 million in Brownfields grant funding to support contaminant cleanup, environmental assessments and redevelopment of critical properties in Monte Vista, Colorado.  

These investments are part the agency’s Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup (MAC) Grant Programs. 

“The City of Monte Vista is taking a strategic approach to cleaning up and revitalizing properties along its Main Street Corridor,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. ““EPA is proud to be supporting projects that will protect the health of residents and bring new redevelopment opportunities to the community.” 

“In the wealthiest nation in the world, every family should be able to live in a clean environment,” said Senator Michael Bennet. “This funding will rightfully support Colorado communities disproportionately affected by contamination. These grants will help Colorado communities safely clean up polluted sites, protect their health, and rebuild in a way that creates jobs and economic opportunity.” 

The city identified Monte Vista City Hall as the project’s first priority cleanup site. The historic building is currently being used by City Government and the Police Department, but formerly functioned as a hospital after being built in 1932. Grant funding at the City Hall site is aimed to address cracked stucco, leaking single-pane windows, lead paint, and floor and ceiling tiles that are likely composed of asbestos-containing materials (ACM). Additionally, impacts from historical heating oil tanks, old x-ray equipment, and other hospital-related historical impacts will also require assessment. 

The second priority site identified in the plan is an abandoned building along the Main Street Corridor. The 3,120-square foot commercial property was originally built in in the 1920s and was most recently remodeled and developed into a restaurant. Unfortunately, because of the extensive costs to revitalize the space, developers have found that it is too cost prohibitive of a project to take on. EPA funding will be used for assessment and cleanup of asbestos containing materials, lead-based paint, and mold for future redevelopment of the building.    

"The grant funding will be a catalyst for revitalization and spur redevelopment in our main commercial area,” said Monte Vista Mayor Dale Becker. “We will be thrilled to work with the contractor and our stakeholders to make these properties healthy and usable once again.”    

State Funding Breakdown: 

Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup (MAC) Grant Program Selection 

The City of Monte Vista is among six organizations in Colorado have been selected to receive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup (MAC) Grant Programs. Additional grantees announced today include: 

• The City of Greeley, Colorado has been selected to receive $500,000.  

• The City of Northglenn, Colorado has been selected to receive $2,750,000.  

• The Town of Kersey, Colorado has been selected to receive $1,132,899.  

• Metro West Housing Solutions, (Lakewood) Colorado has been selected to receive $500,000.  

• The City of Pueblo has been selected to receive $1,000,000. 

Additional Background: 

EPA’s Brownfields Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative which set a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. Approximately 86% of the MAC and RLF Supplemental program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include overburdened communities.” 

EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.7 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. Prior to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this program made approximately $60 million available each year. Thanks to the President’s historic investments in America through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA has now increased that yearly investment nearly 400 percent.   

To see the list of the FY 2024 Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup applicants selected for funding visit EPA’s FY 2024  Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup Applicants webpage.  

For more information on EPA’s Brownfields Program visit EPA’s Brownfields webpage.