Flint Hills Regional Council release
OGDEN, KS – The Flint Hills Regional Council (FHRC) has been awarded a $1 million Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This federal investment will help communities across the region clean up and redevelop contaminated or underutilized properties, unlocking new economic and community development opportunities.
“This $1,000,000 EPA grant is a game changer for the Flint Hills region,” said Trish Giordano, President of the Flint Hills Regional Council. “It empowers us to transform abandoned properties into thriving community assets, sparking revitalization and creating new jobs. Together, we’re paving the way for a brighter, more prosperous future.”
The EPA’s Brownfields Program, established in 1995, supports local governments and nonprofits in cleaning and redeveloping sites affected by environmental contamination. Through this RLF clean up grant, FHRC will provide low-interest loans to eligible entities in the Flint Hills region, particularly in rural communities where financing for environmental remediation is often difficult to obtain.
According to Janna Williams, Regional Planner for FHRC, the loan fund will move projects forward by funding cleanup of brownfield sites—especially those found in rural downtowns. Once remediated, these sites can be redeveloped into businesses, housing, or public-use spaces, revitalizing communities, creating jobs, and strengthening the tax base.
It is anticipated that funding will become available early fall.