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Brownfields 2005
Grant Fact Sheet
Redevelopment
Authority of the City of
Milwaukee, I/I//
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 Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwau-
kee was selected to receive two brownfields assess-
ment grants, four cleanup grants, and a revolving loan
fund grant. The economy of Milwaukee (population
596,974), a federal Renewal Community, has been
dominated by manufacturing. Over the years, many
older companies, such as motor manufacturers,
tanneries, foundries, and breweries, have left the city,
leaving behind a legacy of large and small brownfields.
The city has documented at least 485 acres of
brownfields on 206 tax-delinquent properties and at
least 50 other severely underutilized parcels. Eighty-
Assessment Grants iSJ]
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the Redevelopment Authority of
the City of Milwaukee for two brownfields assess-
ment grants. Hazardous substances grant funds
will be used to conduct Phase I and II environmen-
tal site assessments in five Aldermanic Districts
where 85 percent of the city's 206 tax-delinquent
brownfields are located. Petroleum funds will be
used to perform the same tasks at sites with
potential petroleum contamination.
Cleanup Grants
$800,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the Redevelopment Authority of
the City of Milwaukee for four brownfields
cleanup grants. Grant funds will be used to clean
up metals and other hazardous substances
contamination at the vacant lot at 701 East Vienna
Avenue, a former industrial site; the Garden Park
site at 821-33 E. Locust Street, impacted by
contaminated fill; the Robert G Betz Trust
property, used at various times for automobile
salvage, asphalt operations, and illegal dumping;
and 502-04 West Cherry Street, site of an historic
brewery and, later, a metal salvage/recycling
business.
Revolving Loan Fund
Grant
$1,000,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the Redevelopment Authority of
the City of Milwaukee for a brownfields revolving
loan fund grant. The grant will be used to capital-
ize a revolving loan fund from which the Redevel-
opment Authority of the City of Milwaukee will
provide loans and subgrants to support cleanup
activities for sites in areas contaminated with
hazardous substances. The fund will be used to
support cleanups around the city, with a focus on
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA560-F-05-109
May 2005
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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five percent of these brownfields properties are in five
Aldermanic Districts that are home to 20 percent of
the city's residents. The populations in these districts
are 89 percent minority. The unemployment and
poverty rates are 16 and 36 percent, respectively, and
the median household income is 75 percent of the city
median. Assessment and cleanup of the various
brownfields sites around the city will remove health
threats and blight from the communities, return the
sites to the city tax roll, and create employment
opportunities in neighborhoods most in need. Once the
East Vienna Avenue site and the Betz Trust property
are cleaned up, the city plans to market both sites for
industrial use that is expected to generate 200 high-
quality jobs. Cleanup of the Garden Park site will allow
for the lot to be used for a community meeting place,
farmers' market, sculpture garden, and entertainment
area. Cleanup of the historic brewery site on West
Cherry Street will help connect the surrounding
neighborhoods that are in various stages of redevelop-
ment, and change the perception of the area.
Milwaukee's 30th Street Industrial Corridor and the
Menomonee Valley/Inner Harbor area.
Contacts
For further information, including specific grant con-
tacts, 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 ://w w w. epa. go v/R5 B ro wnfields/
Grant Recipient: Redevelopment Authority of the City
of Milwaukee, WI
414-286-5642
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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