SEIRPC gets $500K grant for regional assessments

LEE COUNTY – Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission has been awarded a $500,000 regional grant to conduct brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments, and community outreach.
The grants were announced in late June, and in addition to the regional grant, the City of Burlington received $1 million to do similar work including cleaning up one of its own sites.
The grants, totaling $3 million combined, come from the Environmental Protection Agency
With these funds, EPA is investing directly in American communities to clean up and redevelop blighted properties, delivering on Trump Administration’s commitment to ensure that clean air, land, and water goes hand-in-hand with economic growth and opportunity.
“EPA is focused on delivering practical results that transform contaminated properties into clean, valuable spaces that spark economic growth and that directly benefit American families,” said Acting Assistant Administrator for Land and Emergency Management Thomas Croci. 
“Addressing environmental contamination and reusing brownfield properties revitalizes neighborhoods, drives local job creation, and unleashes new economic opportunities. EPA is proud to partner with local communities to ensure they have the cleanest air, land, and water as we power the Great American Comeback.”
Among the selected applications for the 2026 Brownfield Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup Grants and RLF supplemental funding in Iowa were: 
• $1 million to Burlington, Iowa, a selected recipient for a Multipurpose Grant to conduct brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments, community outreach, and cleanup activities at a brownfield site owned by the recipient.

• $500,000 to the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission in Iowa, a selected recipient for an Assessment Grant.
Grant recipients with viable cleanup projects ready for work will help communities continue their work to carry out cleanup and redevelopment projects on contaminated brownfield properties. 
According to a spokesperson with the EPA’s 7th Region which is a four-state region including Iowa, SEIRPC will be using the funds for assessments to redevelop six community-identified properties in Donnellson, Fort Madison, and Keokuk. Properties in Lee County / Fort Madison include:
• Donnellson Health Center
• Donnellson Depot
• 732 Ave G, Fort Madison
• Former Sheaffer Pen Factory
The City of Burlington plans to use its $1 million Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup (MAC) grant to redevelop three priority properties identified by the city. Environmental assessments will be performed at 73 community-vetted sites in a city-defined target area after the initial properties are addressed.