5 o T> Brownfields 2008 Grant Fact Sheet Wyoming, 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 this 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. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism. Community Description The City of Wyoming was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Wyoming (population 69,368) is located on the southwest side of the City of Grand Rapids. Since the mid-19th Century, manufac- turing has been the city's economic backbone. In recent years, the decline in manufacturing operations in the region has resulted in vacant factories, closed industries, and job losses. There also has been a decrease in overall economic activity, reduction of the tax base, and creation of numerous brownfields throughout the city's industrial area. Wyoming is facing the challenge of revitalizing this portion of the city. Brownfields assessment is expected to help make the sites more marketable and expedite redevelopment. Assessment Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the City of Wyoming for a brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous sub- stances grant funds will be used to conduct 10 Phase I and five Phase II environmental site assessments, a site inventory, and 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: City of Wyoming, MI 616-530-7272 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. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA560-F-08-122 April 2008 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |