RENO, Nev. (AP) — Reno city officials plan to use a new $600,000 federal grant to take initial steps toward cleaning up contaminants along a 150-year-old railroad corridor where they want to restore the downtown riverfront, redevelop abandoned lots and build much-need housing.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the funding last week through its Brownfields Program. It's intended to assist communities redeveloping blighted urban land polluted with hazardous materials and other contamination.
City officials say the grant is expected to leverage an additional $350 million in new development. Mayor Hillary Schieve and Congressman Mark Amodei say the timing couldn't be better given the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.