By Staff
The Van Buren County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (BRA) recently enlisted the services of Envirologic Technologies Inc. of Kalamazoo to prepare and submit applications to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Brownfield Hazardous Substance and Petroleum Assessment Grants totaling $400,000.
The grants will help the Van Buren County BRA begin to assist local economies by assessing the potential for brownfield redevelopment throughout the county, as well as educating and informing communities of the benefits of brownfield redevelopment.
Brownfield redevelopment is a major tool used by communities to clean-up blighted or environmentally contaminated areas, transforming them into attractive, functional development sites. This encourages new business or civic enterprises to locate where existing infrastructure exists, taking development pressure off of surrounding farmland and open space. A community can turn a potentially harmful area into an economic asset for its citizens.
As a result of the formation of the Van Buren County BRA, smaller communities within the county, many with limited resources, can realize the same benefits that brownfield redevelopment has afforded larger urban cores. Also, brownfield redevelopment in rural areas can help communities achieve the goal of encouraging economic activity while maintaining rural character and agricultural integrity.
"We are looking forward to helping Envirologic Technologies on the grant application process itself," says Van Buren County BRA Chairperson Lisa Phillips. "It involves interacting with interested residents, businesses and municipalities throughout the county in order to accurately reflect the county's redevelopment goals. These connections can be utilized and built upon to strengthen the collaborative efforts of the county to revitalize the region."
A community public hearing will be conducted for input on the draft application.