f w \ Brownfields 2009 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet
Vg| f)	Freeport,	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 Freeport was selected to receive three
brownfields cleanup grants. Located in northern Illinois,
Freeport (population 26,433) is a small rural community
that contains a significant number of brownfields because
of its historically industrial-based economy. The majority
of the city's brownfields are in the Third Ward and include
the Rawleigh Complex, an abandoned
400,000-square-foot, five-building industrial complex.
The demise of the complex and associated widespread job
losses have fueled the decline of the surrounding
commercial district and neighborhoods. In the Third
Ward, 51 percent of residents are minorities, 27 percent
live below the poverty level, and 16 percent are
unemployed. When the target sites are cleaned up, they
are expected to enable the city to facilitate the Rawleigh
Complex redevelopment project. The first phase of the
Rawleigh Complex Reuse Plan calls for redeveloping the
buildings with a public market and agricultural center,
lofts targeted to artists, and affordable housing.
Redevelopment of the Rawleigh Complex is expected to
create jobs, encourage riverfront reinvestment, and
contribute to the city's tax base.
Cleanup Grants
$600,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Freeport for three
brownfields cleanup grants. Hazardous substances
grant funds will be used to clean up the Rawleigh
Complex Buildings B, D, and E sites at 101, 101
to 111, and 114 to 122 South Liberty Avenue,
where industrial operations began in 1912. The
vacant sites were formerly used for manufacturing
pet foods, food products, and household cleaners.
Soil and groundwater are contaminated with
polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides,
and metals. Grant funds also will be used to
conduct a health monitoring study of residents
near the complex, and support 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 Freeport,IL
(815) 235-8221
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	c
Environmental	anri Fmpflpn™	EPA 560-F-09-155
Protection Agency	Response (5105T)	May 2009
Washington, DC 20450	Kesponse (si us )

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