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Brownfields 2003
Grant Fact Sheet
Rich land Center, I/I//
EPA Brownfields Program
EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, commu-
nities, and other stakeholders in economic development
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 Richland Center was selected to receive a
revolving loan fund grant. The city (population 5,114) is
the seat of Richland County, located within a Wisconsin
Community Development Zone. To offset the impact
of the area's declining farming and lumber operations
and a decline in population, the city is pursuing the
redevelopment of its old industrial area. Historically,
Richland Center's old industrial corridor was the site of
heavy industry and commercial operations. These
facilities left a legacy of contamination, abandoned
structures, and a deteriorating housing stock. The
average income in the county is under $16,000, or 69
percent of the national average, and almost 13 percent
of the population lives below the poverty line. Cleanup
and revitalization of the properties along the corridor is
Revolving Loan Fund
Grant
$1,000,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Richland Center for
a brownfields revolving loan fund grant. The
grant will be used to capitalize a revolving loan
fund from which Richland Center will provide
loans and subgrants to conduct cleanup activities.
The city is focusing on cleanup and revitalization
in a redevelopment corridor with widespread soil,
surface water, and groundwater contamination.
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 Richland Center
608-647-6428
Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, the City
of Richland Center has not received brownfields grant
funding.
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been
negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet
are subject to change.
expected to bring better housing and living conditions to
the local residents, raise property values, and attract
new businesses and jobs to the community.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA500-F-03-170
June 2003
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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