The $500,000 EPA funding offsets costs associated with brownfield assessments. It helps reveal current property conditions and any environmental threats.
“So that developers know what they’re getting into, know what the additional costs might be, and factor that into their proposals as they look at redeveloping these sites.”
That’s Ottawa County Agriculture & Economic Development Coordinator Becky Huttenga. While priority is being given to sites near waterways in Holland and Grand Haven, Huttenga says Ottawa County’s Redevelopment Authority will consider all applicants.
“We can distribute those funds to any local community in the county, but they do ask in the grant application that we have certain target areas that we focus on that will achieve some of the outcomes that they’re looking for.”
This is the third time since 2008 that Ottawa County has received EPA funding. In 2013, the county used $400,000 for 34 different projects, and $300,000 in 2020 for 29 projects.
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