Program Overview
In 2023, the SouthEastern Arizona Governments Organization (SEAGO), was awarded a $500,000 Brownfield Assessment grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The communities eligible to use the grant include the cities of Clifton, Nogales, Patagonia, and Safford and all other communities in the counties of Santa Cruz, Greenlee and Graham. The goal of the grant is to transform underutilized, vacant, abandoned properties and those that have, or may be perceived to have, environmental impacts or regulated building materials (also known as “brownfields”) from liabilities into assets that revitalize the community and bring neighborhoods back to life.
The grant is managed by SEAGO with assistance from an environmental consulting team led by Stantec Consulting Services Inc. (Stantec). It was used to create the SEAGO Property Redevelopment and Revitalization Program. Funding for the program is available on a first come, first served basis until September 30, 2027, or until all funds are used.
Guiding Principles
- Prioritize use of grant funds on property 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.
What are the benefits of brownfield redevlopment?
Property owners, business owners, and developers who cleanup and reuse brownfields provide benefits to themselves and their community, including:
- Removing unknowns such as site conditions that might delay a future sale, financing agreement and/or redevelopment project.
- Increasing return from the property by making it more valuable and marketable.
- Contributing to economic prosperity and environmental restoration in the community.
- Making neighborhoods safer and healthier.
- Avoiding actions by regulatory agencies that may impose penalties and costly cleanups.
- Reducing potential impacts from and to adjacent properties.
- This is NOT AN ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM so there is no obligation to cleanup a property or take any action once an assessment has been completed.
How can you use grant funding for your property?
Funding is available to parties interested in receiving FREE environmental site assessments (ESAs) and regulated building material (RBM) surveys, developing site cleanup/reuse plans in support of property sale or redevelopment. Property owners, business owners, and developers are encouraged to take advantage of this funding opportunity that will further economic development initiatives, protect public health, and restore the environment!
How do I . . . .
To enroll in the program and nominate a property for a FREE assessment or cleanup plan, the owner just needs to follow the four simple steps listed below:
- Step 1: Complete a Site Nomination Form click HERE to get the .pdf form or HERE to get a fillable .pdf form.
- Step 2: Submit the form to William Osborne (wosborne@seago.org)
- Step 3: Have the EPA or Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) approve the site’s eligibility
- Step 4: Sign access agreement with SEAGO and have Stantec start the assessment!
Which sites are eligible for grant-funded activities?
In general, the property must be potentially impacted by petroleum or hazardous substances, underutilized or undergoing transition, and meet the following criteria: • Exhibits high potential for redevelopment and/or other opportunities to benefit the community. • Is not included on the EPA National Priority “Superfund” List, under a Consent Order with the State, or targeted for federal or State enforcement action.
How long is grant funding available?
Grant funding is committed through Summer 2027 but it is available for approved sites on a first-come first-served basis.
Will the grant pay for cleanup activities?
No. Under this program, grants funds can be used to conduct assessments and develop cleanup plans but cannot be used to implement a cleanup plan.
Can I be reimbursed for previous assessment activities?
No. Grant funds are not retroactive and cannot reimburse you for past assessment or related activities.
Are grant funds given to me to pay for the consultant?
No. The grant is administered by SEAGO, who will pay the consultant (Stantec) directly for approved assessment and/ or related activities on your property.
Do I enter a contract with the environmental consultant?
No. If your property is approved for grant funding, you will be required to sign a Property Access Agreement that permits the consultant (Stantec) access to the site to perform the requested activities.
Will an assessment affect my property value?
It depends. An assessment itself does not directly affect property value. Property values are often negatively affected by uncertainty regarding site history and the financial and legal risks of potential environmental impacts. ESAs allow property owners to quantify the amount of contamination (or lack thereof) on a property. For properties with little to no contamination, this knowledge may increase marketability. For sites with significant contamination, having an assessment completed using EPA funding removes this as a potential cost to be paid for by the property owner or an interested buyer as part of their due diligence process. Having assessments completed can help to better position properties for grants or tax incentives that can be used to pay for cleanup and support redevelopment.
How will decisions be made on whether work at a specific site will be funded?
In general, all sites that are nominated will be given consideration for funding. Upon receipt of a nomination form, an initial review will be conducted to determine whether the site is a good fit for the program (based on its potential to support economic, environmental, or community goals), as well as whether it likely to meet the EPA site eligibility requirements. Sites/projects will also be evaluated on the likelihood that they will be deemed eligible for use of funding, the certainty of securing site access to perform assessment activities, and other factors.
How do I obtain additional information?
For more information or to submit a site for grant funding consideration, please see contact details below.
Contact
For more information about brownfields and the SEAGO Property Redevelopment and Revitalization Program contact:
| William Osborne Community and Economic Development Program Manager SouthEastern Arizona Governments Organization (SEAGO) Tel: 520.432.5301 x203 email: wosborne@seago.org | Dave Laney Stantec Project Manager Tel: 602.670.7009 email: dave.laney@stantec.com |
Disclaimer: Although this project has been funded wholly or in part by the EPA, the contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the EPA. |