A \ Brownfields 2003 Revolving Loan Fund Grant
Fact Sheet
Allegan, 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. 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. Additionally, funding support is provided
to state and tribal response programs through a separate
mechanism.
Community Description
The City of Allegan was selected to receive a revolving
loan fund grant. Allegan (population 4,838) is an historic,
predominantly rural, manufacturing community located in
southwestern Michigan. Because of its key location on the
Kalamazoo River, the city grew as a lumber town and
railroad stop in the late 1800s. By the early 1900s, the city
had evolved into a manufacturing center. This prosperity
left a legacy of abandoned and idled industrial sites as the
economic fortunes of the city waned. The city is a
designated low- to moderate-income community with a
per capita income of only $17,075, which is 20 percent
lower than the national average. In order for the city to
increase its tax revenues, encourage economic
development, and spur job creation, it must clean up and
redevelop the more than 17 brownfields in the downtown
area. Sites include former manufacturing and lumber
processing facilities, former railroad storage and depot
areas, and former commercial establishments. This grant
award is crucial in leveraging the funds necessary to
return these sites to active use where they may spur smart
growth, prevent urban sprawl, and launch a long-awaited
revival within the city.
Revolving Loan Fund Grant
$250,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Allegan for a
brownfields revolving loan fund grant. The grant
will be used to capitalize a revolving loan fund
from which the city will provide loans and
subgrants to conduct cleanup activities. The city
also will use the grant to conduct community
involvement and outreach activities. Allegan will
focus grant funds on brownfields in the downtown
area that were identified through a previous
brownfields assessment grant.
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: Allegan, MI, City of
(269)686-1102
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 500-F-03-043
Protection Agency	Response (5105T)	June 2003
Washington, DC 20450	Kesponse (si us )

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