^    Brownfields 2009 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet
               Rockford, IL
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 Rockford was selected to receive a
brownfields cleanup grant. Rockford (population 150,115)
was once a thriving manufacturing community but has
faced decades of economic decline. Today, it is a diverse
community where more than 31 percent of residents are
minorities. The site targeted for cleanup is in an
economically distressed area of the city near the Rock
River. Brownfields have had a severe impact on
neighborhoods adjacent to the cleanup site and
contributed to their deterioration. In these areas, almost 29
percent of residents live below the poverty level, and 53
percent of residents are minorities. These neighborhoods
currently do not have access to the Rock River. Cleanup
of the site is expected to be a catalyst for the
redevelopment of the property into a Whitewater Park
with greenways, pathways, and some retail space. This
project will link to a larger plan to create a continuous
system of greenways and pathways along the Rock River.
Redevelopment is expected to enhance property values
and provide economic benefits through increased tourism
and public open space.
                     Cleanup Grant

                     $125,000 for hazardous substances
                     $75,000 for petroleum

                     EPA has selected the City of Rockford for a
                     brownfields cleanup grant. Grant funds will be
                     used to clean up the former Ingersoll site at 301
                     South Water Street. The site was previously used
                     for manufacturing and is contaminated with
                     inorganic material, metals, and petroleum. Grant
                     funds also will be used to conduct community
                     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
                     (http://www.epa.gov/brownfields).

                     EPA Region 5 Brownfields Team
                     (312)886-7576
                     EPA Region 5 Brownfields Web site
                     (http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfiel ds)

                     Grant Recipient: City of Rockford,IL
                     (815)987-5636

                     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-09-100
      May 2009

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