Kansas City accepts $6 million EPA grant for environmental cleanup, housing redevelopment

Yahoo

a day ago

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City has accepted a $6 million grant for environmental cleanup and housing redevelopment in historically underserved neighborhoods.
Mayor Quinton Lucas announced on Friday that the Kansas City Council approved $6 million in federal Brownfields funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
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'I'm pleased the council has approved the $6 million EPA investment that will accelerate our work transforming environmental challenges into neighborhood opportunities,' said Mayor Lucas.
'We're creating a pathway for affordable housing and economic growth, particularly east of Troost.'
The funding includes a $4 million Cleanup Grant for two high-priority sites:
Washington Wheatley Neighborhood: 47 vacant lots where environmental assessment found lead contamination on 84% of parcels, along with buried debris and likely asbestos.
Former Benson Manufacturing Site: A 2.68-acre site at 18th Street and Agnes Avenue, which was used for industrial production from the 1930s to the 1970s and contains hazardous materials in soil and groundwater.
A separate $2 million Supplemental Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant increases the city's total loan fund to $16.5 million – enhancing its ability to provide low-interest loans and subgrants for future brownfield cleanups.
Mayor Lucas said this expanded capacity will help attract private investment, reduce redevelopment barriers and support long-term goals in affordable housing and infrastructure renewal.
'This is a milestone in restoring neighborhoods that have long been overlooked,' said Councilwoman Melissa Patterson Hazley.
'With this EPA investment, we're taking a major step toward transforming once-blighted vacant lots into vibrant, livable spaces. It shows that real results come when we commit to solving hard problems with bold, collaborative and community-focused solutions.'
Brownfields cleanup directly benefits residents by removing lead, asbestos and other toxins from historically impacted neighborhoods – which helps pave the way for new and safe affordable housing development.
The mayor said this project supports Kansas City's broader goals of promoting public health, attracting private investment and transforming vacant properties into community assets.
Mayor Lucas said the council's approval through Ordinance No. 250462 authorizes the city to begin remediation work immediately.
For more information, visit kcmo.gov/brownfields. You can learn more about the EPA's Brownfields Program Grants here.
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