HI C3 Brownfields 2004 Grant Fact Sheet Genesee County, Ml EPA Brownfields Program EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communi- ties, and other stakeholders in economic development to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. Abrownfield 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 contaminant. On January 11,2002, the President 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 Genesee County was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant and a revolving loan fund grant. Genesee County is home to 436,141 people. The largest municipality is the City of Flint, where 18.4 percent of households had an income less than $10,000 in 1999, and 22.9 percent of families with children live in poverty. The September 2003 unemployment rate was 9.6 percent for Genesee County and 17.2 percent for the City of Flint. Approximately 55.3 percent of Flint's 124,943 residents are African-Americans. The loss of automobile manufacturing jobs has left the real estate market weak, with thousands of abandoned houses and empty lots. Assessment and cleanup activities are expected to increase the local tax base, contribute to downtown and neighborhood revitaliza- tion, reduce sprawl, and eliminate public health risks. Assessment Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected Genesee County to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be used to perform Phase I assessments at multiple properties in Flint that have recently come into the ownership of the county through tax reversion. Funds will also be used for cleanup planning and community outreach activities. Revolving Loan Fund /New\ Grant $2,000,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected Genesee County to receive a brownfields revolving loan fund grant. Grant funds will be used to capitalize a revolving loan fund. Genesee County will use this fund to provide loans and subgrants to qualified borrowers undertaking brownfields cleanup activities at sites contami- nated with hazardous substances. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community involvement activities and financial reporting. Sites to be considered will be in core communities, and county redevelopment sites. 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 5 Brownfields Team 312-886-7576 http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfields/ Grant Recipient: Genesee County, MI 810-257-3059 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, the activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA560-F-04-133 June 2004 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |