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  Brownfields  2007

  Grant  Fact Sheet

   Winnebago  County,

                    IL


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

Winnebago County was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Located in northern
Illinois, Winnebago County  (population 278,418)
historically has depended on heavy manufacturing,
especially machinery and fabricated metals, for its
economic base. This dependence  has led to severe
unemployment during economic downturns. The
county's unemployment rate now exceeds the state and
national levels. The county's minority population, 17.5
percent of residents, has high rates of unemployment
and poverty. A preliminary inventory has identified 35
brownfields potentially contaminated by hazardous
substances. They range in size from small lots to a 40-
 Assessment Grants
 $200,000 for hazardous substances
 $200,000 for petroleum

 EPA has selected Winnebago County for two
 brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous
 substances grant funds will be used to conduct
 ten Phase I and five Phase II environmental site
 assessments. Petroleum grant funds will be used
 to conduct ten Phase I and six Phase II environ-
 mental site assessments. Funds from both grants
 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: Winnebago County, IL
 815-484-8067

 The information presented in this fact sheet comes
 from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the
 accuracy of this information. The cooperative
 agreement for the grant has not yet been negoti-
 ated. Therefore, activities described in this fact
 sheet are subject to change.
acre site. The county also has identified 55 potential
petroleum-contaminated brownfields, including old
gas stations, industrial sites, and former oil distribu-
tors. Some of these brownfields have rail access,
making them prime targets for industrial redevelop-
ment once they are assessed. Brownfields redevelop-
ment will increase private investment, create jobs, and
encourage growth in the older sections of the county's
communities.
                                                 Solid Waste and
                                                 Emergency Response
                                                 (5105T)
                        EPA560-F-07-193
                        May 2007
                        www.epa.gov/brownfields

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