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Brownfields 2007
Grant Fact Sheet
Alma, 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 Alma was selected to receive two
brownfields cleanup grants. Located in rural central
Michigan, Alma (population 9,275) has a history that
includes a thriving lumber industry, agriculture,
petroleum refining, and manufacturing. Changing
markets and technology have seriously impacted the
city's industry and commerce. Industries have deterio-
rated, depressing the local economy and decreasing
neighborhood property values. Low-income housing is
concentrated near existing or former industrial opera-
tions. The city's unemployment rate is 8.7 percent, and
the poverty rate is 11.5 percent. Cleanup of the C&O-
CSX and the former Alma Iron and Metal properties
will help facilitate the city's waterfront redevelopment
project to convert the space into a mix of retail, office,
Cleanup Grants
$400,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Alma for two
brownfields cleanup grants. Grant funds will be
used to clean up the former C&O-CSX property
between Lincoln Avenue and North State Street
and the former Alma Iron and Metal property at
115 North State Street. The sites were formerly
used for lumber and coal storage and handling,
and are currently scrap metal storage and process-
ing facilities. Soil and groundwater at the sites
are contaminated with PCBs, volatile and semi-
volatile organic compounds, and heavy metals.
Funds from both grants will be used for commu-
nity involvement 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: City of Alma, MI
989-463-8336
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.
and residential facilities surrounding a series of
waterfront plazas and parks. Brownfields redevelop-
ment will expand the tax base, promote private invest-
ment, and create jobs in the community.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-07-201
May 2007
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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