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Brownfields 2005
Grant Fact Sheet
Rockford, IL
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. 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, 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. Addi-
tionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal
response programs through a separate mechanism.
Community Description
The City of Rockford was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Rockford (population
150,115) once was athriving manufacturing commu-
nity, reaching its height during the 1960s. It has since
faced decades of neglect and decline, and now has a
poverty rate of 14 percent and a ten percent unemploy-
ment rate. It also is a diverse community with a
population that is 31.6 percent minorities. The decline
of manufacturing in the city left brownfields in the
older and poorer areas of the city. The target areas for
hazardous substances assessments are in the Central
Business District and the Rock River Corridor, where
about 33 percent of the population are minorities, the
unemployment rate is 17.4 percent, and the poverty
Assessment Grants 7New
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the City of Rockford for two
brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous
substances grant funds will be used to conduct up
to five Phase I and at least three Phase II site
assessments of properties within the Central
Business District and Rock River Corridor. Funds
also will be used to develop cleanup plans and
conduct community involvement activities.
Petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct up
to 25 Phase I and up to five Phase II site assess-
ments of abandoned gas stations and petroleum-
contaminated properties in the South Main Street
and West State Street corridors.
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: City of Rockford, IL
815-987-5636
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
rate is about 34 percent. The target areas for petro-
leum assessment are corridors along South Main
Street, and West State Street, which are economically
distressed areas with many abandoned gas stations.
The populations in these areas are more than 40
percent minorities, and 21.6 percent of residents live in
poverty. Brownfields in the area have had a negative
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-05-088
May 2005
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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impact on development, presenting physical risks and
visual blight to residents. Residential properties adja-
cent to many of these properties are poorly maintained,
and parks are underutilized. Redevelopment will
eliminate blight, protect human health, remove barriers
to investment, create jobs, and improve property
values.
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