PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today a $37,734 Brownfields Grant award to the City of Cottonwood to revitalize the downtown area by performing an Asbestos and Lead-Based Paint Abatement on the Cottonwood Civic Center. The remodeling of this historic building is a step in the process of bringing new life to the historic Old Town Cottonwood district.

The Cottonwood Civic Center was built in 1939 using local sandstone and river rock and partially funded by the Works Progress Administration. The building has fallen into disrepair due to the expense of removing the lead-based paint and asbestos found in the construction materials. The Brownfields Grant abatement was scheduled for completion March 3, 2017.