Brownfields 2010 Assessment and Revolving Loan Fund Grant Fact Sheet Grand Rapids, Ml EPA Brownfields Program EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states. communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield 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. In 2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act was passed to help states and communities around the country cleanup and revitalize brownfields sites. 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 Grand Rapids was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants and a brownfields revolving loan fund grant. Located in southwestern Michigan, Grand Rapids (population 192,252) is the second largest city in Michigan. The city"s industrial sector saw rapid growth during the mid-1800s, when several foundries, machine shops, and furniture manufacturers were established. During the past 30 years, the city"s manufacturers have steadily closed their plants, resulting in job losses, a declining population, and the creation of brownfields. Since 2007, the unemployment rate has nearly doubled to 16 percent, and the poverty rate is 22 percent. There are more than 300 potential brownfields in five of the neighborhoods targeted for assessment. Poverty rates in these neighborhoods are as high as 42 percent, and up to 90 percent of residents are African-American. Assessment of brownfields will clarify the extent of contamination, and is expected to enable the city to proceed with revitalization plans and attract new businesses that will create jobs. The target areas for RLF funding include the West Side/Furniture Center, Division Avenue Corridor, and Southwest Grand Rapids, where poverty rates are as high as 31 percent, and 1111 tn 85 nerr.ent nf residents are minorities Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $100,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Grand Rapids for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds will be used to perform about 16 Phase I and 12 Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to conduct cleanup planning and community outreach activities. Revolving Loan Fund Grant $750,000 for hazardous substances $250,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Grand Rapids for a brownfields revolving loan fund grant. The grant will be used to capitalize a revolving loan fund from which the City of Grand Rapids will provide loans to support cleanup activities for sites contaminated with hazardous substances and petroleum. The city expects to process one or two loans per year. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community outreach activities, loan marketing, and cleanup oversight. 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 (http://www.epa.gov/brownfields). EPA Region 5 Brownfields Team (312)886-7576 EPA Region 5 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfields) Grant Recipient: City of Grand Rapids,MI 616-456-3431 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 negotiated. Therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC 20450 Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA560-F-10-103 Apr 10 ------- Brownfield cleanups conducted through the RLF grant will complement the city"s Master Plan. Redevelopment of brownfields is expected to create new jobs, encourage private investment, and transform blighted communities in the target areas. United States __,. EPA Protection Agency Resoonse (51 Q5Ti Apr 1 Washington, DC 20450 Kesponse (bl Ob I ) ------- |