EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfield sites. 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. The Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act of 2002, as amended by the Brownfields Utilization, Investment and Local Development Act of 2018, was passed to help states and communities around the country clean up and revitalize brownfield sites. Under this law, EPA provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through five competitive grant programs: Multipurpose Grants, 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.
$1,500,000
EPA has selected the Calhoun County Land Bank Authority to lead a Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant. Grant funds will be used to inventory and prioritize sites and conduct 37 Phase I and 32 Phase II environmental site assessments Grant funds also will be used to develop 13 cleanup plans. Assessment activities will focus on the southeast and northwest neighborhoods within the City of Battle Creek and the western portion of the City of Albion. Priority sites include a 17-acre and a 3-acre demolished lots located in residential neighborhoods and a 17-acre former industrial site located next to a senior center and sports field. Non-lead coalition members include the City of Albion and the Battle Creek Community Foundation.