City of Oakland California

Since 1995, the City of Oakland has been awarded over $4 million dollars through 15 grants, primarily from the US Environmental Protection Agency, to assist with the assessment and cleanup of brownfields. Oakland has been one of the most successful municipalities in the country at obtaining brownfield grants. These grants have helped to turn many contaminated sites into Oakland brownfield success stories. 

In 2006, the US EPA awarded the City of Oakland two “community-wide” brownfield assessment grants totaling $400,000 for use in the Coliseum Area of east Oakland. The City has used this money to finance investigations of potential soil, groundwater, asbestos and lead paint contamination at Coliseum Area sites that are targeted for redevelopment.

In 2009, the US EPA awarded the City of Oakland a $200,000 “site-specific” brownfield assessment grant for use at an assemblage of eleven contiguous parcels located at the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Seminary Avenue. Current plans call for a two-story, 35,000 sq ft retail development that is expected to create as many as 175 new jobs. The City has used the grant money to finance investigations of potential soil, groundwater, asbestos and lead paint contamination.