Brownfields are real property, the expansion, development or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant

The Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 awarded a $500,000 Cooperative Agreement to the Cortland County Industrial Development Agency on October 1, 2025, under the Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements program (CFDA 66.818).

The recipient will conduct inventory, characterization, and assessment activities on brownfield sites in the City of Cortland and the Village of Homer, New York. Deliverables include 18 Phase I and six Phase II environmental site assessments, four site-specific cleanup plans, six planning documents to support brownfields revitalization, eight community meetings, and twelve quarterly progress reports submitted through EPA's Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES). The recipient will competitively procure and direct qualified environmental professionals to conduct environmental site activities and will manage community involvement and reuse planning activities.

The performance period runs through September 30, 2029. No sub-recipients are included in this agreement.

This agreement will provide funding for the city of cortland county industrial development agency to conduct eligible assessment-related activities as authorized by cerlca 104(K)(2) in the city of cortland and the village of homer, new york. Activities:specifically, this agreement will provide funding to the recipient to inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct cleanup planning and community involvement related activities. Additionally, the recipient will competitively procure (as needed) and direct a qualified environmental professional to conduct environmental site activities. Also, the recipient will report on interim progress and final accomplishments by completing and submitting relevant portions of the property profile form using EPA's assessment, cleanup and redevelopment exchange system (ACRES). Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:EPA has selected the cortland county industrial development agency for a brownfields assessment grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct 18 phase I and six phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to develop four cleanup plans and to support reuse planning and community engagement activities. The target area for this grant includes the city of cortland and the village of homer. Further, the recipient anticipates conducting eight community meetings, developing four site-specific cleanup plans/analysis of brownfield cleanup alternatives, developing six planning documents to initiate brownfields revitalization, and submitting twelve quarterly reports. Work conducted under this agreement will benefit the residents, business owners, and stakeholders in and near the city of cortland and the village of homer in new york.