The DEQ's Storage Tank Division worked with the city of Detroit's department of environmental affairs and the city's planning and development department to identify five locations based on their potential for reuse as new businesses.

The sites are on Harper, Woodward, Kercheval, Dexter, and a former dry-cleaning business on East State Fair. The grants will pay for site investigation, soil borings, groundwater testing, underground storage tank removal and development of site evaluation reports. The properties have not been redeveloped due to the potential environmental remediation costs.

The DEQ also worked with the Kalamazoo economic development and planning division to identify two high-priority petroleum-contaminated sites in the city. The former oil bulk facility on East Michigan was selected because of the extent of the contamination at the site, as well as its redevelopment potential. The second location, at the corner of Hazard Avenue and Center Street, was a former gas station and auto repair shop that requires additional investigation to achieve closure before it can be redeveloped by the city into new housing.

The winning projects were selected from hundreds of state-funded sites across Michigan.

A total of 40 grants were awarded to 26 states and three tribal organizations.