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Presentation 2. B.

Regular BOS Meeting

Meeting Date:	10/15/2019
Submitted For:	Woody Cline	Submitted By:	Cathy Melvin, Executive Assistant
Department:	Board of Supervisors-District 3

Information

Request/Subject

Presentation and information regarding the Copper Corridor Blight Busters (CCBB) Coalition and an application to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Assessment Coalition Grant funds under the EPA's Brownfields Grant Program for FY 2020.

Background Information

The CCBB Coalition is a group of communities in Kearny, Hayden, Winkelman, Miami and Globe. The communities have all defined blight as an issue within their individual areas and they have decided to combine efforts to apply for funding to begin to address those issues with the assistance of grant funds from the EPA. Gila County staff and Pinal County staff have attended meetings within each of these communities where the issues of blight, vacant buildings, and legal issues have been discussed as well as the possible solutions.

A meeting was held in Winkelman on September 5, 2019, to officially begin an organized effort for the CCBB Coalition to apply to the EPA for a FY 2020 Assessment Coalition Grant under its Brownfields Grant Program.

Assessment Coalition Grants are designed for one “lead” eligible entity to partner with two or more eligible entities that have limited capacity to manage their own EPA Cooperative Agreement. Gila County would act as the “lead agency” for the EPA proposal. As the lead agency, Gila County would submit a proposal on behalf of the Coalition members and may request funding up to $600,000 in hazardous substances funding.

It is anticipated that the EPA Request for Proposals will be published October 1, 2019. County staff held an informal meeting with County Manager James Menlove and County Finance Director Mary Springer regarding the County acting as the lead agency for the application process. If a grant is awarded, Gila County would be the grant recipient and thus administer the grant and coordinate the grant activities as well as be the point of contact for the other Coalition members. Both Mr. Menlove and Ms. Springer confirmed that the County would be interested in acting as the lead agency.

County staff will present the completed funding application to the Board of Supervisors for approval.

Evaluation

By allowing the Coalition to identify and assess Brownfield sites and plan for their future redevelopment, the EPA grant will support the long-term economic well-being of the communities and will encourage reinvestment and economic development opportunities. Grant funding will allow the Coalition to identify and assess Brownfield sites along with prime commercial and industrial corridors and will support the long-term individual community plans to revitalize neighborhoods and the economy. Creating useable properties will complement the existing efforts already set forth and encourage much-needed reinvestment, economic development, and job creation opportunities.

Conclusion

The purpose of this presentation is to provide the Board with information regarding the CCBB Coalition and its anticipated application to the EPA for a FY 2020 Assessment Coalition Grant under the EPA's Brownfields Grant Program.

Recommendation

N/A

Suggested Motion

Presentation of information pertaining to the Copper Corridor Blight Buster Coalition and its anticipated application to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a FY 2020 Assessment Coalition Grant under the EPA's Brownfields Grant Program. (Cathy Melvin)

Attachments
Copper Corridor Blight Buster Coalition Presentation