HI C3 Brownfields 2003 Grant Fact Sheet Missoula County, MT EPA Brownfields Program EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, commu- nities, and other stakeholders in economic development to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or con- taminant. On January 11, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under the Brownfields Law, EPA provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through four competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism. Community Description Missoula County was selected to receive a revolving loan fund grant. The 2,625-square-mile county (popu- lation 95,800) has a history of reliance on the timber and mining industries. The 50 percent decline in the timber industry between 1980 and 2000 has resulted in the loss of many high-paying jobs and the creation of large vacant brownfields sites, often in low-income neighborhoods. The median family income in the neighborhoods around abandoned lumberyards is significantly lower than that of the county. Neverthe- less, Montana's natural beauty and abundance of recreational opportunities have drawn many new residents to the county. The planned revitalization of a mill site in the City of Missoula, prime real estate along Revolving Loan Fund Grant $1,000,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected Missoula County for a brownfields revolving loan fund grant. The grant will be used to capitalize a revolving loan fund from which Missoula County will provide loans and subgrants to conduct cleanup activities. The primarily rural county will focus grant funds on contaminated lumber yards located in low- income communities throughout the county. Contacts For further information, including specific grant contacts, additional grant information, brownfields news and events, and publications and links, visit the EPA Brownfields web site at: www.epa.gov/brownfields. EPA Region 8 Brownfields Team 303-312-6982 http://www.epa.gov/region08/land_waste/ bfhome/bfhome .html Grant Recipient: Missoula County, MT 406-523-4877 Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, Missoula has not received brownfields grant funding. The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. the Clark Fork River, will address the need for afford- able housing and retail/business space. Removal of environmental obstacles at a mill site in the City of Seeley Lake will allow the creation of a park or similar enhancement to this rural town. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA500-F-03-138 June 2003 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |