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Brownfields 2005
Grant Fact Sheet
Northern Lakes
Economic Alliance,
Northwest Region of
Lower Michigan
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 Northern Lakes Economic Alliance was selected
to receive a brownfields assessment grant. The target
areas are Antrim, Charlevoix, and Emmet Counties,
with a combined population of 80,637. The region has
historically been dependent on an economic base of
manufacturing and industrial production. All three
counties are predominantly rural and contain significant
low- and moderate-income communities. They have
been impacted by layoffs and dozens of plant closings
in the automotive sector over the past ten years. The
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the Northern Lakes Economic
Alliance for a brownfields assessment grant.
Petroleum grant funds will be used to assess
brownfield sites throughout Antrim, Charlevoix,
and Emmet Counties. Grant funds will be used to
develop a site inventory, and perform approxi-
mately 20 Phase I site assessments and some
Phase II site assessments. Funds also will be used
for community outreach 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: Northern Lakes Economic
Alliance, MI
231-582-6482
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
unemployment rates for the three counties are 10.2
percent, 9.7 percent, and 11.3 percent, all higher than
the national rate. In addition, many support businesses
such as gas stations, dry cleaners, and small machine
shops have been unable to survive without the base of
major manufacturing jobs. There are 148 contaminated
sites in the region, of which at least 100 are contami-
nated with petroleum. They include abandoned salvage
yards and former manufacturing facilities. Many of
these sites are near rail trails, off-road bike paths, and
walking trails. Their redevelopment will enhance bike
paths and trails, and improve recreational opportunities.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA560-F-05-188
May 2005
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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Brownfields redevelopment will also reuse existing
infrastructure, maximize the tax base, preserve
greenspace, generate jobs, and overcome social and
economic challenges.
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