Brownfields 2006 Grant Fact Sheet

Cheboygan County, MI

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 Cheboygan County for two brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds will be used to perform approximately 20 Phase I and approximately ten Phase II environmental site assessments for both hazardous substances and petroleum sites. Grant funds also will be used to develop a brownfields inventory and conduct community outreach activities.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

Cheboygan County was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Located in northeast lower Michigan, Cheboygan County (population 27,289) is a historically industrial and shipping community that experienced significant economic disruption during the past 25 years. Lumbering was responsible for the growth and development of the county in the late 1800s, when the industry was located at Mill Creek. Other industries also located along the waterfront to take advantage of easy access to water for processing and shipping. This industrial activity resulted in at least 103 known contaminated sites. The unemployment rate in the county is 9.6 percent, and the median household income is only 77.5 percent of the state average. When brownfields are assessed and revitalized, the properties will be used for recreational, retail, and residential purposes. Brownfields redevelopment will stimulate private investment in housing options and businesses, create jobs, expand the tax base, and create greenspace and trails.

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: Cheboygan County, MI
231-627-9931

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