Many cities and towns are left with abandoned and underused real property that is not attractive to buyers due to perceived or actual environmental issues. Even with the best vision in place, it still takes money to start down the redevelopment path and bring stakeholders together.
Local governments need funding for identifying past uses, determining any existing contamination, planning redevelopment and cleanup and keeping the community involved in the process. Since its inception in 1995, many communities in the Midwest have obtained grants through the United States Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Program to fund these tasks. With up to $400,000 available per applicant, these grants can make a difference in getting over environmental hurdles.
You probably know of properties and areas in your community that fit the Brownfield definition. A Brownfield site is defined as real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants, controlled substances, petroleum or petroleum products, or is mine-scarred land.
With the push for more Brownfield funding available in FY 2011 (starting in October 2010), redevelopment planning now will place you in the best position for getting your grant application considered this fall. Although grant funding is only one resource in a redevelopment plan, it is a key part of many successful community redevelopments. Even if grants only partially fund your assessment and cleanup work, the results of that work can lead to identification of other funding sources including former property owners and operators and their insurance companies.
EPA has issued guidance on its grant programs, which is available on its website. Many communities have found it beneficial to hire environmental professionals who have streamlined the grant writing process and worked through a successful redevelopment project. Planning now will give your community the best opportunity to add up to $400,000 and jump-start next year’s Brownfield redevelopment efforts.
Author: Jamie B. Dameron (bio)
Phone: 317.822.6787
Email: jdameron@bamberger.com