5 o T> Brownfields 2006 Grant Fact Sheet Kalamazoo, Ml 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 City of Kalamazoo was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Located in southwest Michigan, Kalamazoo (population 77,145) was once known as the "Paper City" due to the large number of paper-related manufacturing jobs that dominated the local economy. A decline in this industry over the past ten years cost the region more than 1,500 paper- manufacturing jobs. Only one paperboard plant remains operational, leaving behind many abandoned and underused manufacturing facilities. The city has identified 155 brownfields sites totaling more than 425 acres. The per capita income in Kalamazoo is 78 percent of the national average, and 24.3 percent of individuals in the city live below the poverty level. In some neighborhoods of Kalamazoo, the unemploy- ment rate exceeds 12 percent. The city's ability to Assessment Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the City of Kalamazoo for a brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous sub- stances grant funds will be used to conduct community-wide environmental site assessments, cleanup planning, and community outreach within the City of Kalamazoo. 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 Kalamazoo, MI 269-337-8336 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. raise revenues is limited by the fact that almost 40 percent of its land area is tax-exempt. This landlocked city is nearly 95 percent built-out and cannot grow beyond its borders. Abandoned, environmentally stigmatized properties often are the city's only choice for development. Assessment, cleanup, and eventual redevelopment of Kalamazoo's brownfields properties are expected to improve the area's job market, increase the local tax base, and attract new residents to the city. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA560-F-06-116 May 2006 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |