A \ Brownfields 2003 Revolving Loan Fund Grant
Fact Sheet
Missoula County, MT

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
Missoula County was selected to receive a revolving loan
fund grant. The 2,625-square-mile county (population
95,800) has a history of reliance on the timber and mining
industries. The 50 percent decline in the timber industry
between 1980 and 2000 has resulted in the loss of many
high-paying jobs and the creation of large vacant
brownfields sites, often in low-income neighborhoods.
The median family income in the neighborhoods around
abandoned lumber yards is significantly lower than that of
the county. Nevertheless, Montana's natural beauty and
abundance of recreational opportunities have drawn many
new residents to the county. The planned revitalization of
a mill site in the City of Missoula, prime real estate along
the Clark Fork River, will address the need for affordable
housing and retail/business space. Removal of
environmental obstacles at a mill site in the City of Seeley
Lake will allow the creation of a park or similar
enhancement to this rural town.
Revolving Loan Fund Grant
$1,000,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected Missoula County for a
brownfields revolving loan fund grant. The grant
will be used to capitalize a revolving loan fund
from which Missoula County will provide loans
and subgrants to conduct cleanup activities. The
primarily rural county will focus grant funds on
contaminated lumber yards located in low-income
communities throughout the county.
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 8 Brownfields Team
(303)312-7074
EPA Region 8 Brownfields Web site
(http://www.epa.gov/region8/bro wnfields )
Grant Recipient: Missoula County, MT
(406)523-4877
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-03-138
Protection Agency	Response (5105T)	June 2003
Washington, DC 20450	Kesponse (si us )

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