Q \ Brownfields 2005 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet \ Northern Lakes Economic Alliance, Northwest Region of Lower Michigan 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 Northern Lakes Economic Alliance was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. The target areas are Antrim, Charlevoix, and Emmet Counties, with a combined population of 80,637. The region has historically been dependent on an economic base of manufacturing and industrial production. All three counties are predominantly rural and contain significant low- and moderate-income communities. They have been impacted by layoffs and dozens of plant closings in the automotive sector over the past ten years. The unemployment rates for the three counties are 10.2 percent, 9.7 percent, and 11.3 percent, all higher than the national rate. In addition, many support businesses such as gas stations, dry cleaners, and small machine shops have been unable to survive without the base of major manufacturing jobs. There are 148 contaminated sites in the region, of which at least 100 are contaminated with petroleum. They include abandoned salvage yards and former manufacturing facilities. Many of these sites are near rail trails, off-road bike paths, and walking trails. Their redevelopment will enhance bike paths and trails, and improve recreational opportunities. Brownfields redevelopment will also reuse existing infrastructure, maximize the tax base, preserve greenspace, generate jobs, and overcome social and economic challenges. Assessment Grant $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance for a brownfields assessment grant. Petroleum grant funds will be used to assess brownfield sites throughout Antrim, Charlevoix, and Emmet Counties. Grant funds will be used to develop a site inventory, and perform approximately 20 Phase I site assessments and some Phase II site assessments. Funds also will be used for community outreach 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: Northern Lakes Economic Alliance, MI Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (231)582-6482 Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (231)582-6482 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) EPA 560-F-05-188 May 2005 ------- |