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As part of the City of Owensboro's commitment to investing in its community and promotion of economic development, elected officials created a permanent source of capital funding in Fiscal Year 2003-2004 called “Your Community Vision.” The additional revenue provides a long-term source of funds to address capital needs and promote economic development in the City of Owensboro and Daviess County. As part of Your Community Vision, the City of Owensboro developed the City’s Brownfield Program in order to help assess, cleanup, and redevelop un-used, under-used, and blighted properties within the City.

After more than 20 years of discussions, the City and County have taken steps to develop a consolidated 911 Dispatch and Emergency Management Center (Center). The plan calls for the Center to be constructed on the property located at 9th and Allen Streets in downtown Owensboro across from the Owensboro Police Department. The Center will also contain a training facility for law enforcement classes, space for the Daviess County Sheriff’s Department and Emergency Management Agency, and regional offices for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

In order to make the Center’s development a reality, Owensboro’s Brownfield Program has identified three properties on that block, 911 & 1003 Allen Street and 100 East 9th Street, in need of environmental cleanup. The City applied for and received three federal environmental cleanup grants through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Brownfield Program. The cleanup of these properties will allow for the development of this regional law enforcement training center in a part of our community that is in great need of revitalization. It is located in a neighborhood that has elevated rates of poverty compared to the surrounding communities. These grant funds will advance the development of this property and improve environmental conditions for the residents of the entire City, as well as advance public safety opportunities for our county and surrounding communities.

The three properties are contaminated with the volatile organic compound (VOC) dry cleaning fluids Tetrachloroethylene (PCE), Trichlorothylene (TCE), and Cis 1,2-Dichloroethylene (DCE), from the former Jackson’s Pronto Cleaners that previously occupied 911 Allen Street. Contaminants have been detected in soil and groundwater on the other two properties (1003 Allen and 100 East 9th Streets) as well. The release of contaminants occurred during operation of the former dry cleaner over a period of 26 years. A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) and a limited subsurface, Phase II ESA of the properties was conducted and completed in 2007. This Phase II ESA confirmed the presence of VOCs in the subsurface.

The grant funds will be used in part to remove the existing structures, contaminated with asbestos and lead-based paint, and remediate the VOC contaminated soils to a level that is protective of human health and the environment and that will allow for the construction of the Center.