Nine communities and one state in the region received more than $4 million in brownfields grant money. Springfield, Missouri, was also selected to receive $1 million to lend to eligible organizations for brownfields cleanup. U.S. EPA awarded $70.7 million to 202 communities in 38 states nationwide.

"Both urban and rural settings have been improved, from places in our inner cities to fields along our farmlands. For every one acre of reused brownfields, an estimated four and a half acres of unused green space is preserved," said Region 7 Administrator John B. Askew.

The grantees selected in Region 7 are: Clinton, Iowa; Marion, Iowa; Marshalltown, Iowa; Aurora, Missouri; Kansas Port Authority; Kansas City, Missouri; The Missouri Department of Natural Resources; Springfield, Missouri; Creighton University, Nebraska; Harvard, Nebraska; Cherry County, Nebraska; and the Economic Development Board.