I jBt; | Brownfields 2011 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet
Racine, Wl
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 Racine was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Located in southeastern
Wisconsin along Lake Michigan, Racine (population
80,100) has a long manufacturing and industrial history.
During the last several decades, declines in the industrial
sector have led to plant closings, job losses, and increased
poverty rates. Vibrant industrial facilities were left idled.
There are more than 300 brownfields in the city, including
some as large as 20 acres, commonly located in and near
residential areas. The 14.2 percent unemployment rate is
the second highest in the state, and the median household
income is lower than the state and national medians. The
city plans to focus assessments in the Root River Corridor
in the heart of downtown Racine. Assessment of
brownfields will help the city develop a comprehensive
plan for the target area and remove the negative stigma
attached to properties. Assessments are expected to
provide information to facilitate additional funding for
cleanup and redevelopment.
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the City of Racine for two
brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide
hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds
will be used to perform 28 Phase I and 10 to 13
Phase II environmental site assessments, and
develop up to six cleanup plans. Hazardous
substances grant funds will be used to prioritize
sites. Grant funds also will be used to support
community outreach activities and conduct
area-wide planning for the Root River Corridor.
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 Racine,WI
262-636-9151
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-128-095
May 2011

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