Brownfields 2007 Grant Fact Sheet

Freeport, 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 Freeport for two brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to conduct up to five Phase II environmental site assessments. Petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct up to six Phase II environmental site assessments. Funds from both grants will be used to support community outreach activities.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The City of Freeport was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Located in the historically industrial region of northern Illinois about 15 miles from the Wisconsin border, Freeport (population 26,433) has an economy built on manufacturing and heavy industry. With the decline of these industries, many properties are now vacant or underused. The poverty rates among minority residents in the city range from 26 to 36 percent. Unemployment among African-Americans is 20 percent. Freeport is focused on the redevelopment of brownfields in the East Side and Rawleigh Corridor, a major downtown economic center. The East Side contains a mix of aging housing and closed industrial facilities. East Side residents have expressed concern about environmental contamination in their neighborhood. Assessment of brownfields in these two areas will remove a barrier to the redevelopment needed to expand business opportunities, create jobs, and spur private investment.

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 Freeport, IL
815-235-8221

The information presented in this fact sheet comes from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. The cooperative agreement for the grant has not yet been negotiated. Therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change.