Columbus, Georgia

Agenda Item # 1



Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting



October 26, 2004



Agenda Report # ___31___





TO: Mayor and Councilors



SUBJECT: Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Application



INITIATED BY: City Manager?s Office



___________________________________________________________________________





Recommendation: Approval is requested to submit an application and if approved

accept a grant in the amount of $2,000,000 from the Environmental Protection

Agency a Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF).



Background: ?Brownfields? are defined as abandoned, idled or underutilized

industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment in

complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination and financial

liabilities associated herewith, and the United States Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) has instituted the Brownfields Law to expand potential federal

financial assistance for Brownfields revitalization, including grants for

assessment, cleanup, and job training.



Resolution #557-01 authorized the acceptance of a $200,000 Brownfields Pilot

Project Grant to be used to Master Plan the Enterprise Zone area to insure all

aspects of development are considered. The Master Plan for the Enterprise Zone

funded through this grant is nearing completion. The RLF grant will provide

further funding to address Brownfields sites.



Analysis: The Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grant will provide funding for the

City to capitalize a revolving loan fund and to provide subgrants to public

(Development Authorities and local governments) and private entities

(corporations and individuals) to carry out cleanup activities at Brownfields

sites. The grant allows submissions by ?coalitions? or groups of eligible

entities, to allow the entities to pool their funds. The City will collaborate

and form a coalition with the City of Phenix City. This collaborative effort

will be the first of it?s kind. This will allow the City to apply for

$2,000,000 ($1 million per coalition member). The Consolidated Government of

Columbus Georgia will be the ?Applicant?.



The fund is established to loan up to $200,000 per parcel to public and private

entities owning property that needs to be ?clean up?. The regulations allow

for 40% to be a grant and 60% to be a low interest loan (to be determined by

the coalition). A portion of the fees can be utilized for costs associated

with the management of the account, training and travel associated with the

training.



The grant requires that an area be designated for which the funds will

utilized. The City will designate this area as the Columbus MSA, which

includes Chattahoochee, Harris, Muscogee counties in Georgia and Russell County

in Alabama. This would provide funds to be loaned for clean up in any of this

area.



Financial Considerations: The grant amount to be requested is $2,000,000;

however an award of a lesser amount may be awarded.



Recommendations/Actions: Approve a resolution of the Council of Columbus,

Georgia to authorize the City Manager to make application and accept from the

Environmental Protection Agency a Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grant

in the amount of $2,000,000, to be administered by Consolidated Government of

Columbus Georgia, Community Reinvestment.