Brownfields 2004 Grant Fact Sheet

Canton, IL

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, the President 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.

CLEANUP GRANTS

$400,000 for hazardous substances

EPA has selected the City of Canton to receive two brownfields cleanup grants. Grant funds of $200,000 each will be used to conduct remedial activities at two adjacent sites, Parcels #2 and #3, of the former International Harvester site at 260 East Elm Street. The two parcels are contaminated with arsenic, iron, lead, metals, semi-volatile organic compounds, and volatile organic compounds. Grant funds will also be used to conduct community outreach activities.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The City of Canton was selected to receive two brownfields cleanup grants. Located in Fulton County, Canton has 15,288 residents. International Harvester closed its doors in 1983 after 65 years in Canton, eliminating 3,000 jobs, which constituted almost 20 percent of employment in the community at that time. The site had originally been used in the 1840s as a farm implements manufacturing plant. Approximately 4,132 people now live in the site area, which has a higher poverty rate and lower per capita income than the rest of the city. The city has taken possession of the property and divided it into seven parcels for redevelopment purposes. Parcel #2 is slated for redevelopment as a café and collectors shop, and Parcel #3 will be developed into open space and an agricultural heritage museum. This redevelopment will enable a developer to solidify plans and begin construction of a 64-unit, assisted-living facility on two of the neighboring parcels. Redevelopment will also expand local employment opportunities, and commercial and retail services in the downtown area.

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: Canton, IL
309-647-1753

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