The City of Coos Bay is currently preparing applications to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) for grants to provide up to $400,000 in funding for the reuse and revitalization of properties throughout the Coos Bay. The grant applications will be submitted in December 2014, and funding will be awarded during the spring of 2015. The City is soliciting the support and involvement of community-based organizations and the general public in the grant application process and the development of a sustainable site revitalization program. A revitalization opportunity site is defined broadly by the U.S. EPA as “abandoned, idled or under-used property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.” The U.S. EPA grants support five general types of activities – all of which are relevant to the City’s priority revitalization initiatives: Conducting a community-wide inventory of potential sites; Identifying priority opportunity sites and conducting assessment activities; Conducting cleanup and reuse planning; Community outreach; and Planning for revitalization of priority areas or corridors. The goal of the U.S. EPA program is to turn underutilized sites from community blight to community benefit, restoring them to safe, viable properties that contribute to the economic wellbeing of the community. A public meeting will be held this Wednesday, December 10th at City Hall in the Council Chambers at 5:30 pm to provide basic information on the site reuse and revitalization program, explain the grant application process, solicit community support and initiate a discussion of priority reuse and revitalization opportunities in Coos Bay and specific neighborhoods. We look forward to your participation! For more information contact Community Development Director Eric Day at 541-269-8924 or eday@coosbay.org
