Program Overview
The City of Lodi has received a $300,000 brownfield assessment grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This grant, awarded in 2020, has a three-year term and will be used to contribute to the successful revitalization and reuse of ‘brownfield’ sites (properties which are vacant, blighted, or otherwise underutilized). The grant provides funding for environmental site assessments, regulated building materials surveys (asbestos and lead paint), site cleanup and reuse planning, and related activities at publicly and privately owned sites. Use of grant funding will build on success stories achieved by the City during their previous (fiscal year 2015) EPA brownfields assessment grant and continue to drive revitalization and beneficial reuse of underutilized brownfield sites. Although funding is available for priority projects throughout the City, specific target areas include downtown Lodi, the Union Pacific rail corridor which bisects the city north to south, and the federally-designated Opportunity Zone, consisting of approximately 230 acres bounded by the UPRR rail corridor to the west, Lodi Avenue to the north, Central Avenue to the east, and Kettleman Lane to the south. An overarching goal is to leverage grant funding to develop a sustainable brownfields revitalization program to continue to support site redevelopment projects benefitting the citizens of Lodi.
VISION: Revitalize vacant and underutilized (“brownfield”) properties in and around the City’s downtown/waterfront (the Target Area) and outside City limits in small communities along transit routes connected to the Target Area. These revitalization efforts are intended to provide benefits to the community, including job creation, increased property values, environmental restoration, and reduced health risks.
MISSION: Use EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant funding to inventory and prioritize brownfield sites for redevelopment, assess existing site conditions, and plan for cleanup and reuse of priority sites throughout the Target Area.
Guiding Principles for EPA Brownfield Assessment Grants:
- Prioritize use of grant funds for sites that will attract investors and become a catalyst for new employment opportunities and a sustainable job base.
- Promote infill development that maximizes use of existing space, infrastructure and utilities.
- Remove redevelopment barriers by addressing unknown site conditions and creating shovel-ready sites.
- Invest in sites that will generate public and private revenue.
- Transform blighted areas into thriving neighborhoods.
- Protect public health and the environment.
- Promote public participation and input on priority redevelopment areas and sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
