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Brownfields 2004
Grant Fact Sheet
Mason County, Ml
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, 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 pro-
grams through a separate mechanism.
Community Description
Mason County was selected to receive a brownfields
assessment grant. Mason County (population 28,274) is
a rural harbor community on the eastern shore of Lake
Michigan. Historically a port community serving the
shipping industry, Mason County evolved into an
industrial manufacturing region. As manufacturing
declined, jobs disappeared and the county tax base
eroded. Over the last three years, the county has lost
approximately 420 full-time jobs. Its 12 percent unem-
ployment rate is the highest in Michigan. Many of the
county's prime lakefront properties are dotted with old
and abandoned industrial sites and blighted buildings.
The environmental assessment of these lakefront
properties will help the county identify sources of
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected Mason County for a
brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be
used to identify and inventory brownfields proper-
ties, perform Phase I and Phase II site assess-
ments, and conduct community outreach. The
county expects to generate an inventory of
approximately 50 properties, primarily along the
waterfront.
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: Mason County, MI
231-845-6646
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, the activities
described in this fact sheet are subject to change.
contamination to Lake Michigan, attract new develop-
ment to lakefront communities, create new jobs, and
re-establish a needed tax base.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-04-077
June 2004
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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