Brownfields 2003 Grant Fact Sheet

North Chicago, 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, 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

$160,175 for petroleum
EPA has selected the City of North Chicago for a brownfields cleanup grant. The cleanup grant will target petroleum contamination at properties at 1801-09 and 1811 Sheridan Road. In the past, these sites have housed a paint store, print shop, blacksmith, electric railroad line, city hall, and fire station. Cleanup grant funds will be used for underground storage tank removal, removal and disposal of contaminated soil, and follow-up soil testing.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The City of North Chicago was selected to receive a cleanup grant. The city has a total population of almost 36,000, of whom only 12,000 are local residents. The balance are Naval personnel stationed at the Great Lakes Training Center. Approximately 27 percent of the community's residents live in poverty, more than 75 percent are minority, and almost 10 percent are unemployed. Redevelopment of the properties along Sheridan Road is an important component of a comprehensive plan to revitalize the city's commercial and industrial areas. It is expected that the properties will be used for centrally located commercial services, including retail shops, restaurants, offices, and for recreational space. Currently, permanent and temporary residents go elsewhere for these services. Cleanup and revitalization of these properties is expected to improve the quality of life for local residents by promoting job creation and increasing the tax base.

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 North Chicago, IL
847-596-8670

Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, the City of North Chicago has not received funding for brownfields grants.

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