Brownfields 2006 Grant Fact Sheet

Belvidere, IL

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.

ASSESSMENT GRANTS

$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the City of Belvidere for two brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds will be used to perform Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments, and cleanup planning for several sites. Funds also will be used for a health survey, biomonitoring program, and community involvement activities.

CLEANUP GRANT

REVOLVING LOAN FUND GRANT

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The City of Belvidere was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants, a brownfields cleanup grant, and a brownfields revolving loan fund grant. Located 75 miles west of Chicago, Belvidere (population 23,352) is experiencing development pressure as the Chicago population expands west. A target area for development is the Kishwaukee River Brownfield Redevelopment Area, a four-parcel, 11-acre brownfield area in downtown Belvidere on the southern bank of the Kishwaukee River, which had been a commercial and industrial job center at the turn of the previous century. The community has the city's most significant poverty, devalued property, suburban flight, and potential health issues. When brownfields are assessed and cleaned up, they will be part of a mixed-use development project that will include affordable housing for renters and owners, a restaurant, residential and commercial mixed use, and open space. Redevelopment of the city's brownfields will provide the catalyst for a larger downtown mixed-use development, restore neighborhood property values, create jobs, protect the water quality of the Kishwaukee River, and open up riverfront recreational opportunities.

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 Belvidere, IL
815-547-5210

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