Region 5 Brownfields Success - City of Rock Falls, IL
Riverfront Park construction on Site of Former
Reliant Fastener Company
Opportunity:
In 2006, the City of Rock Falls wanted to revitalize
its downtown and riverfront, but was faced with a
challenge. Multiple old factories along the City's
riverfront, including a closed and abandoned 1907
nut and bolt manufacturing plant (Reliant Fastener)
were closed and deteriorating, precluding any
redevelopment opportunities.
Targeted Investment: Rock Falls approached
IEPA and USEPA for assistance in assessing and
cleaning up its riverfront properties.
-	Two phases of cleanup were performed by the USEPA Superfund Emergency Removal
program on the Reliant Fastener site.
-	The City successfully applied for three USEPA Brownfield grants in 2005 and a fourth in
2014 focused on assessment and cleanup of properties along its riverfront and elsewhere
-	In 2009, Illinois EPA made a $257K loan to the City of Rock Falls from its USEPA
Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan fund, for the cleanup of the Reliant Fastener Site
-	The City has received $240,000 in brownfields grants from Illinois EPA. This work cleared
the way for Rock Falls to envision a mixed-use revitalization of their riverfront, the
RB&W (Run, Bike and Walk) Redevelopment District.
Results: As a result of ten years of targeted investment, the Reliant Fastener site and other
associated sites have been cleaned up and demolished. A hotel has been constructed on a portion
of the Reliant site, and the first phase of construction of a riverfront public park has begun on
the remainder of the site. Ongoing Brownfield and redevelopment work will expand the footprint
of this visionary redevelopment over time.
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