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

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