$1.5M Awarded for Brownfields Projects

"Brownfield redevelopment is one of the most important ways to revitalize cities and implement growth management," said Carl Levin, co-chair of the Senate smart growth task force. "Brownfield redevelopment not only stimulates the economy of neglected neighborhoods, but also helps clean up the environment and reduce development pressure on our urban fringe and farmlands."

The Brownfield pilot program will provide eight Michigan communities with resources to start reclaiming contaminated lands and again making them useful to local residents, Levin adds.

"This important program empowers people at both the state and local levels to work together in a timely, unified way toward the dual goal of cleaning up the environment and providing a stimulus for the local economy," adds Sen. Debbie Stabenow.

Brownfields are abandoned, idled or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination.

Bay City will receive $200,000 to redevelop two sites, the Fletcher propertyand the former Farmer Peet Packing site. Both properties are located on the Saginaw riverfront in an industrial area.

The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians will receive $200,000 to assess the Manistee Forge site which will be used to build housing for tribal families and a marina.

The city of Manistee will receive $200,000 to target six potential brownfields, including three vacant parcels in the city's industrial park, a wastewater treatment plant, an iron foundry and a former boat manufacturing site.

Sanilac County will receive $200,000 to identify up to 50 sites in its effort to attract new businesses and preserve farmland and green space.

The Downriver Community Conference will receive $150,000 for the assessment of up to six priority sites and a 225-acre wetland.

The city of Frankfort will receive $150,000 to conduct further studies of four contaminated sites previously assessed and seven additional identified sites.

The city of Saginaw will receive $150.000 to assess and facilitate the redevelopment of new sites within or adjacent to the state-designated Renaissance Zone, particularly brownfield properties along Saginaw's riverfront corridor in the Downtown area.

Wayne County will receive $150,000 to target up to six new sites in the most severely contaminated areas.