EPA Brownfield Partnership

The United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) mission is to protect human health and the environment. Since its inception in 1995, EPA's Brownfields Program has grown into a proven, results-oriented program that has changed the way contaminated property is perceived, addressed, and managed. The EPA's Brownfields Program is designed to empower states, communities, and other stakeholders in economic redevelopment to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse Brownfields. The EPA's Brownfields Program provides financial and technical assistance for Brownfields activities through an approach based on four main goals:
  • Protecting the Environment Addressing Brownfields to ensure the health and well-being of America's people and environment.
  • Promoting Partnerships Enhancing collaboration and communication essential to facilitate Brownfields cleanup and reuse.
  • Strengthening the Marketplace Providing financial and technical assistance to bolster the private market.
  • Sustaining Reuse Redeveloping Brownfields to enhance a community's long-term quality of life.
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Federal & Local Partnerships
The U.S. EPA has been a valued partner of the Grand Traverse Redevelopment Authority (GTCBRA) by making resources available to address Brownfield properties in our community through a 2008 Petroleum Site Assessment Grant and a 2010 Revolving Loan Fund Grant. The EPA is also a member of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, an interagency partnership of the EPA, Department of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development. Through this partnership Grand Traverse County was also awarded a Community Challenge Planning Grant in 2010, which is being utilized for a host of activities.

Grants
Brownfields grants continue to serve as the foundation of EPA's Brownfields Program. These grants support revitalization efforts by funding environmental assessment, cleanup, and job training activities. Brownfields Assessment Grants provide funding for Brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments, and community outreach. Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grants provide funding to capitalize loans that are used to clean up Brownfields. Brownfields Job Training Grants provide environmental training for residents of Brownfields communities. Brownfields Cleanup Grants provide direct funding for cleanup activities at certain properties with planned greenspace, recreational, or other nonprofit uses.