​Macomb County Receives $300K In Redevelopment Aid From EPA

MACOMB COUNTY, MI — The Macomb County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority was recently awarded a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that will help local communities and private property owners assess and clean up brownfield sites for future economic development, the county announced Thursday.

The Brownfield Assessment Grant, which will be administered by the Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development, provides funding to inventory, characterize, assess and identify cleanup, planning and community involvement activities for sites across the county.

"This is a great opportunity for Macomb County to turn idled property back into productive use," Macomb County Executive Mark A. Hackel said. "Working in partnership with our local communities, this EPA grant will help us attract investment for properties with the highest potential for positive economic impact."

MCPED plans to use the funds to assess brownfield sites where redevelopment will support environmental improvement initiatives, economy and quality of life for Macomb County residents, the county said in a news release.

The county is currently reviewing proposals from consultants to assist with the work. The consultant will be tasked with completing specified environmental assessment work. The project period will run from January 1, 2021 through September 30, 2023.

According to the EPA, a brownfield is a property where expansion, redevelopment or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant. It is estimated that there are more than 450,000 brownfields in the U.S.