Old Hastings Middle School Project Awarded EPA Grant Funding
The City of Hastings was awarded $475,000 in Brownfield Assessment cleanup funds from the Environmental Protection Agency for work at the former Hastings Middle School at 714 W. Fifth St.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced today that Hastings was among 207 communities selected to receive 214 grant awards for Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund Cleanup Grants and revolving Load Fund Supplemental Funding. Combined, the EPA grant awards total more than $224 million.
The City and Community Redevelopment Authority worked with the South Central Economic Development District to apply in fall 2024 to the EPA Brownfield Program for a cleanup grant to remediate the asbestos and other contamination that is likely in the old middle school building. The grant is anticipated to cover 100% of the work. The funds will allow the CRA to address
asbestos in the building, which prepares the building to be renovated and reused. The presence of asbestos makes it hard to renovate the interior and be used for something else.
The City of Hastings applied for an EPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant in the amount of $575,000. “We were extremely thankful to receive a phone call from the EPA, letting us know we were approved for $475,000,” Mayor Jay Beckby said. “This amount should cover the cost of removing the asbestos from the building. Once the asbestos is removed, the building will be ready for redevelopment and become an asset to the community. "
The City of Hastings must now submit a detailed workplan and budget to the EPA by June 30 and our application included an intent to find consultants within the first 30 days.
For more information, visit the Brownfield grant application EngageHastings project at https://engage.cityofhastings.org/old-hastings-middle-school-epa-brownfield-cleanup-grant.