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Brownfields 2005
Grant Fact Sheet
Michigan City, IN
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 Michigan City was selected to receive a
brownfields cleanup grant. Approximately 10.4 percent
of families and 13.3 percent of the city's 32,900
residents have annual incomes below the poverty level.
In addition, 7.3 percent of the labor force is unem-
ployed. The area targeted for redevelopment is the
Trail Creek Waterfront Redevelopment Area, which
includes abandoned and underutilized former manufac-
turing and commercial sites. Plans for the Trail Creek
Waterfront Redevelopment Area include the creation
of parks, walkways, and public spaces; the expansion
of the municipal marina; and the potential development
of a mixed-use commercial and entertainment center.
Redeveloping abandoned former industrial sites in the
Cleanup Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Michigan City for a
brownfields cleanup grant. Grant funds will be
used to plan and implement cleanup of the Benz
Enterprises LLC Boat Storage facility, which lies
within the Trail Creek Waterfront Redevelopment
Area. Grant funds also will be used to support
community outreach activities. The 0.7-acre
property was part of a larger parcel used from
1921 to 1976 for the manufacture of power plant
and scientific instruments. The site later was used
for boat engine repair and maintenance activities.
Site soils and groundwater are contaminated with
metals, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and
chlorinated solvents.
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 Michigan City, IN
219-873-1419
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
target area will create jobs, increase tourism, remove
blight, improve the health of the community, and
remove the potential for continued pollution of Trail
Creek.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA560-F-05-219
May 2005
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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