Brownfields 2003 Grant Fact Sheet

Allegan, MI

EPA BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM

EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders in economic development 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.

REVOLVING LOAN FUND GRANT

$250,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Allegan for a brownfields revolving loan fund grant. The grant will be used to capitalize a revolving loan fund from which the city will provide loans and subgrants to conduct cleanup activities. The city also will use the grant to conduct community involvement and outreach activities. Allegan will focus grant funds on brownfields in the downtown area that were identified through a previous brownfields assessment grant.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The City of Allegan was selected to receive a revolving loan fund grant. Allegan (population 4,838) is an historic, predominantly rural, manufacturing community located in southwestern Michigan. Because of its key location on the Kalamazoo River, the city grew as a lumber town and railroad stop in the late 1800s. By the early 1900s, the city had evolved into a manufacturing center. This prosperity left a legacy of abandoned and idled industrial sites as the economic fortunes of the city waned. The city is a designated low- to moderate-income community with a per capita income of only $17,075, which is 20 percent lower than the national average. In order for the city to increase its tax revenues, encourage economic development, and spur job creation, it must clean up and redevelop the more than 17 brownfields in the downtown area. Sites include former manufacturing and lumber processing facilities, former railroad storage and depot areas, and former commercial establishments. This grant award is crucial in leveraging the funds necessary to return these sites to active use where they may spur smart growth, prevent urban sprawl, and launch a long-awaited revival within the city.

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 at: www.epa.gov/brownfields.

EPA Region 5 Brownfields Team
312-886-7576
http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfields/

Grant Recipient: City of Allegan, MI
269-686-1102

Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, the City of Allegan has received brownfields funding for assessment grants.

The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change.