Brownfields 2003 Grant Fact Sheet

Artspace Projects, Inc., Jackson, 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.

CLEANUP GRANT

$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected Artspace Projects, Inc. for a cleanup grant totaling $200,000. The cleanup grant will target the former Acme Industries complex facility on Mechanic Street in Jackson, Michigan. This riverfront property was the site of a machinery and air conditioning manufacturer and is contaminated with solvents, oil, and heavy metals.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

Artspace Projects, Inc. was selected to receive a cleanup grant. Artspace has targeted a site in the vacant Acme Industries complex in Jackson. Jackson's population of 36,000 is about 30 percent minority. Per capita income is 31 percent less than the statewide average, and the poverty rate is 9 percent higher than the statewide average. The site needs to be cleaned up to allow development of the planned Armory Park Arts Project, which will create studio space for artists and wide-ranging educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities for residents.

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: Artspace Projects, Inc., MI
612-333-9012

Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, Artspace Projects, Inc. has not received brownfields grant funding.

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