Thanks to an EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant, Ottawa County is better positioned to evaluate, restore and redevelop abandoned, underutilized and contaminated sites.
Ottawa County is one of 207 communities nationwide selected to share funding from a pool of $224 million distributed from Brownfield Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup grants.
This is the third time Ottawa County has been selected to receive such funding since its Brownfield Redevelopment Authority was established in 2008. Previous grants have supported site assessments for projects like Terra Station, a 12-building, mixed-use complex currently under construction in Hudsonville.
This year’s funds will be used primarily for Phase I and II environmental site assessments, evaluating property conditions. Should the assessment reveal contaminants, a remediation plan is developed.
Grand Haven has 140 known contaminated sites along the Grand River, and Holland has 163 contaminated and blighted properties, many along the north and east side of Lake Macatawa.
The county estimates 34 assessments can be funded with this $500,000 grant.
