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 Brownfields  2006

  Grant  Fact  Sheet

      Redevelopment

  Authority of the  City

     of Milwaukee,  Wl


EPA Brownfields Program
EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, commu-
nities, and other stakeholders 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 Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwau-
kee was selected to receive two brownfields assess-
ment grants, a brownfields cleanup grant, and a
brownfields revolving loan fund grant. Located in
eastern Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Michigan,
Milwaukee (population 596,974) is a federally desig-
nated Renewal Community, and has at least 485 acres
of brownfields. Many older manufacturing companies
such as tanneries, foundries, breweries, and motor
manufacturers have left the city, leaving vacant
brownfields that threaten public health and the envi-
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the Redevelopment Authority of
the City of Milwaukee for two brownfields
assessment grants. Hazardous substances grant
funds will be used to perform Phase I and Phase
II environmental site assessments in an area
where 80 percent of the city's tax-delinquent
brownfields are located. Funds also will be used
for community outreach activities. Petroleum
grant funds will be used to perform the same
tasks at sites with potential petroleum contamina-
tion.
Cleanup Grant
                                 Ljooej
$200,000 for hazardous substancesr""
EPA has selected the Redevelopment Authority of
the City of Milwaukee for a brownfields cleanup
grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be
used to clean up the 4th and Wisconsin site, a
two-acre property at 401-441 West Wisconsin
Avenue, which is contaminated with volatile
organic compounds, metals, and polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons. The site is currently a
parking lot, but has been the location of two
hotels, a drycleaner, and auto and tire stores.
Funds also will be used for community involve-
ment activities. When the site is cleaned up, it
will be used for mixed-use development, with
retail stores, offices, or a hotel.
Revolving Loan Fund
Grant
$1,000,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the Redevelopment Authority of
the City of Milwaukee for a brownfields revolv-
ing loan fund grant. The grant will be used to
capitalize a revolving loan fund from which the
Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwau-
kee will provide loans and subgrants to support
                                               Solid Waste and
                                               Emergency Response
                                               (5105T)
                      EPA560-F-06-139
                      May 2006
                      www.epa.gov/brownfields

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ronment. Assessments will be focused on an area that
contains 80 percent of the city's tax-delinquent brown-
fields. The unemployment rate is approximately 16
percent in this area, 89 percent of residents are minori-
ties, and 36 percent live below the poverty level. The
cleanup property is in an area where 35 percent of
residents live below the poverty level, and the median
household income is 43 percent of the state's median.
Revolving loan fund efforts will focus on the 30th
Street Industrial Corridor and the Menomonee Valley/
Inner Harbor area. Between 34 percent and 39 percent
of residents in these areas live below the poverty level,
and more than 13 percent of residents are unemployed.
When brownfields are assessed and eventually cleaned
up, they will be used for residential, commercial,
office, retail, mixed-use, or industrial purposes. Brown-
fields redevelopment will create jobs in the neighbor-
hoods most in need, increase tax revenues, remove
blight, contribute to a more vibrant downtown, and
reduce air emissions.
cleanup activities for sites contaminated with
hazardous substances, especially in the 30th Street
Industrial Corridor and the Menomonee Valley/
Inner Harbor area. Grant funds also will be used for
community involvement activities.
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: Redevelopment Authority of the
City of Milwaukee, WI
414-286-8268
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.

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