EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore | epa.gov/
Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced more than $9.3 million from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in Michigan while advancing environmental justice.
EPA selected seven communities in Michigan to receive seven grants totaling almost $5 million in competitive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs. Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this is the largest ever funding awarded in the history of the EPA’s Brownfields MARC Grant programs. In addition, the agency is announcing $4.35 million in non-competitive supplemental funding to two successful existing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant programs in Michigan to help expedite their continued work by extending their capacity to provide more funding for additional cleanups.
These investments are part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to grow the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to driving over $470 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.
“We’re working across the country to revitalize what were once dangerous and polluted sites in overburdened communities into more sustainable and environmentally just places that serve as community assets. Thanks to President Biden’s historic investments in America, we’re moving further and faster than ever before to clean up contaminated sites, spur economic redevelopment, and deliver relief that so many communities have been waiting for,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “This critical wave of investments is the largest in Brownfields history and will accelerate our work to protect the people and the planet by transforming what was once blight into might.”
“Given the Midwest’s rich industrial history, it’s no surprise that Michigan has a significant portion of EPA’s funded brownfields sites,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. “Thanks to the historic brownfields investment announced today, more communities will get the financial help they need to transform abandoned, blighted properties into assets that attract business and community development.”
“The Downriver Community Conference is managing one of the most robust and effective Brownfield programs in the country, as evidenced by the consistent strong federal funding they receive,” said Rep. Debbie Dingell. “Cleaning up, restoring, and redeveloping Brownfield sites stimulates economic investment and jobs in our communities and improves quality of life for residents. These funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will support the DCC’s continued work to make Downriver safer, healthier, and more vibrant.”
“Cleaning up blighted properties helps strengthen neighborhoods, reduce crime and increase property values for those who live nearby,” said Rep. Dan Kildee. “I am pleased to have helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help clean up these properties, making way for potential new economic development in Bay City. In Congress, I will continue to secure federal funds to help mid-Michigan communities thrive.”
Many communities that are under economic stress, particularly those located in areas that have experienced long periods of disinvestment, lack the resources needed to initiate brownfield cleanup and redevelopment projects. As brownfield sites are transformed into community assets, they attract jobs, promote economic revitalization and transform communities into sustainable and environmentally just places.
Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity, and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.
EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments to disadvantaged communities. The Brownfields Program strives to meet this commitment and advance environmental justice and equity considerations into all aspects of its work. Approximately 84 percent of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities.
EPA has selected the following entities in Michigan to receive funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan and Cleanup (MARC) Grant Program.
Barry County will receive a $400,000 grant focused on the Downtown Hastings Riverfront, a one-mile-long area near the Thornapple River. Priority sites include the 8.23-acre former Hastings Manufacturing Co. Industrial Landfill and Royal Coach site that was destroyed by a fire in 2020; the 1.95-acre former Hastings Manufacturing Co. Warehouse No. 80 formerly used to store parts and chemicals; and the 3.3-acre Hastings Metal Recycling Center formerly used to salvage steel, copper, aluminum, zinc, electronics, and car batteries.
“The $400,000 assessment grant is transformational for Barry County. This allows our Brownfield Redevelopment Board to continue the momentum of working with our community partners to evaluate sites with potential risk factors and repurpose them for development,” said David Jackson, Chairman of the Barry County Board of Commissioners. “We appreciate the ongoing partnership with the EPA. These funds have been a critical resource fostering positive growth and repurposing properties with potential environmental risk in Barry County.”
City of Bay City will receive a $1 million grant to capitalize its revolving loan fund and provide up to four loans and one subgrant to support cleanups. Activities will focus on the Midland Street and Northeast/Columbus/South End target areas. Priority sites include the former Surath Scrap Yard at 1001 E. Ohio Street, a former industrial property at 75 Niagara Street, a former gasoline station at 100 State Street, and the former Dow Chemical Site at 1210 N. Water Street. Funds also will be used to market the RLF program.
“Bay City is committed to bringing historic and vacant properties back into beneficial use. We are so thankful that the EPA has awarded this grant to help us with this endeavor. The grant will be used on some areas of the city we have prioritized including Midland Street area, Columbus Avenue area and the South end,” said Dana Muscott, City Manager for Bay City.
Bay Mills Indian Community will receive a $330,725 grant to clean up a former business and residence that once housed a store, an arcade, a recreational room, a marina, a marine fueling station, and a residential suite. The now vacant, dilapidated site is contaminated with petroleum and hazardous substances and its septic system and drinking water wells are in poor condition.
“Bay Mills Indian Community is very excited to receive the EPA Brownfields Cleanup grant,” said Rachel Lyons, Tribal Manager. “This funding will be used to clean up a longstanding contamination site which will improve the environment and public health. Once clean-up is complete, this location will be revitalized to enhance our community in many ways. This will include increased access to our beautiful natural resources, creating jobs, and promoting area tourism.”
Cass Community Social Services in Detroit will receive a $500,000 grant to clean up the Former Visitation Church at 1951 Webb St. Built in 1925, the 17,984-square-foot former church structure is contaminated with metals and inorganic contaminants. The grant will also fund community engagement activities.
“Cass Community Social Services greatly appreciates the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Cleanup Brownfield Grant. The grant money will advance our plans for the remediation of a vacant church, for the past 20 years, which will be used as a community center supporting the restoration of the Dexter-Linwood Neighborhood and the community we serve,” said Reverend Faith Fowler, Executive Director of Cass Community Social Services.
City of Marquette will receive a $964,250 grant to clean up the former Cliffs Dow property at 100 Wright St. and 2001 Lakeshore Blvd. The site, formerly used as a charcoal pig iron plant, a wood chemical plant, and to produce acetic acid and methanol chemicals is contaminated with volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds and petroleum.
“The City of Marquette is grateful to have been awarded an EPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant which will be used to help the City address legacy contamination left from the historic Cliffs-Dow manufacturing site,” said Cody Mayer, Mayor of Marquette. “This money is earmarked to help reduce on-site impacts to the environment and assist in putting this property back to productive use in the City.”
City of Parchment will receive an $800,000 grant for a Phase II environmental site assessment and to clean up metals, solvents, and petroleum at the 31-acre Parchment Mill #2 site which closed in 2000. The grant will also fund community engagement activities.
"We are extremely excited to be receiving this Multipurpose Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),” Robert D Britigan III, Mayor of Parchment. “It will be a catalyst for cleaning up and preparing our mill property for sustainable development into the future."
Wayne County receive a $1 million grant to conduct 66 Phase I and 40 Phase II environmental site assessments, and to support cleanup planning at six priority sites. Assessments will focus on the Michigan Avenue Corridor in Inkster, Southwest Detroit, and the south side of the 8 Mile Road Corridor in Detroit. Priority sites include the long-vacant, 2.4-acre former Detroit Ironworks Company facility, a vacant and abandoned recreation center and dormitory, a 41-acre strip mall, a 1-acre former used car sales lot, and a former post office and furniture store. Coalition members include the Southwest Detroit Business Association and the 8 Mile Boulevard Association. The grant will also fund community engagement activities.
“To boost Wayne County’s economy, revitalizing contaminated areas is crucial. Our strategy includes redeveloping brownfield sites that were once used for industrial purposes. This grant will tackle long-standing issues and facilitate the revitalization of these areas,” said Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans.
You can read more about this year’s MARC Grant selectees, here.
EPA has selected the following entities in Michigan for Brownfields Non-competitive Supplemental Funding Through the Existing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant Program.
Detroit Wayne County Port Authority has been selected to receive $1.35 million. The Detroit Wayne County Port Authority RLF program has successfully made loans or subgrants leading to four cleanups that are either completed or underway. Potential projects include the Southwest Housing Solutions and the 601 Piquette sites in Detroit. The funding will extend the program’s capacity to help finance more cleanups in the county’s most underserved areas.
“We are elated at the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority with the news of this supplemental funding award,” said Jonathan C. Kinloch, Board Chairman of the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority. “It shows the EPA’s confidence in the ability of the Port Authority to efficiently provide funding for important projects that revitalize commercial and social service projects in our community. We look forward to using these funds to further the mission of economic development and improving our community.”
Downriver Community Conference has been selected to receive $3 million. The Downriver Community Conference RLF program has successfully made loans or subgrants leading to 38 cleanup projects that are either completed or underway. Potential projects include Mill Street Project in Ecorse and the Zug Island Project in River Rouge. The funding will extend the program’s capacity to help finance for more cleanups in the most underserved areas in the 20 communities in the downriver area of southeast Michigan and the counties of Washtenaw, Monroe, and Lenawee.
“Thank you, EPA, for your continued support for the Downriver Community Conference Brownfield Coalition,” said James Perry, Executive Director of Downriver Community Conference. “This Supplemental RLF grant award is another huge win for our area and supports the hard work we are doing on brownfields to turn ‘blight sites’ to ‘bright sites.’”
You can read more about this year’s RLF Grant recipients, here.
Additional Background:
EPA has selected these organizations to receive funding to address and support the reuse of brownfield sites. EPA anticipates making all the awards announced today once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.
EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding has leveraged, from both public and private sources, nearly 260,000 jobs. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfield Grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar.
The next National Brownfields Training Conference will be held on August 8-11, 2023, in Detroit, Michigan. Offered every two years, this conference is the largest gathering of stakeholders focused on cleaning up and reusing former commercial and industrial properties. EPA co-sponsors this event with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).
- For more on Brownfields Grants: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding
- For more on EPA’s Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields