Will County Brownfield Assessment Grant Program
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Will County History and Brownfield Redevelopment
In the late 1800s Will County became known for mining and then steel production. In the early 1900s, the region’s economic base shifted from coal and limestone mining to steel production. In the early 1930s, the region shifted again to refinery development and soon after WWII military production.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the area known as the “rust belt” suffered changing economic conditions. Large manufacturers like the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant, US Steel, and Caterpillar closed.
Brownfield redevelopment has been targeted to address environmental and human health issues left in blighted areas left behind by closure of industrial developments, which were often located along Will County’s waterways. Redevelopment will encourage growth in abandoned, historically industrial sections of the County’s communities. Note: This program grant does not fund demolition, remediation, or cleanup activities. However, the reports generated through this program can be utilized to secure other grant funding for these activities.
Brownfield In the News
Brownfields Assessment Grant Community Outreach Begins
The Will County Center for Economic Development (CED) will be hosting public meetings on Tuesday, November 14th in Joliet and Lockport to share information and invite community participation in the Will County Brownfields Program.
Will County Center for Economic Development Awarded $400,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant by U.S. EPA
The Will County Center for Economic Development is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $400,000 Brownfields Assessment grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
About the Will County Brownfield Assessment Grant Program
The Will County Center for Economic Development was awarded a USEPA Assessment Grant in the amount of $400,000 to complete site assessments in three targeted areas and others that will be identified during community outreach activity.
The mission of the Will County Brownfield Assessment Grant Program is to:
- Minimize exposure to contamination to sensitive populations in the Target Areas and elsewhere in Will County
- Increase productive site reuse of the historical industrial/commercial properties
- Facilitate growth and quality of life improvement of the Target Areas and elsewhere in Will County
By addressing environmental and human health factors.
Through this project, the CED intends to bring citizens, environmental regulatory agencies, and consultants together around a common goal of redevelopment.
Project Target Areas
Three target areas in the Des Plaines River Corridor in the cities of Joliet, Lockport, and Rockdale in the central portion of Will County were identified.
Target Area 1
The Near East Side of Joliet (Census Tract (CT) 8813.02) is a 102-acre area adjacent to the Des Plaines River and directly south of the abandoned Old Joliet Prison. The dilapidated prison has been a source of criminal activity for years, including trespassing and arson. The historically industrial use of the area is primarily vacant today.
Target Area 2
Lockport is located just north of Joliet. The Canal Road Area of Lockport (CT 8807.02) is a 1-square mile area along the Des Plaines River that has been historically used as junkyards and construction and storage-based businesses.
Target Area 3
The City of Rockdale (population of 1,979) is a 0.79-square mile City immediately south of Joliet that has been historically an industrial town where many properties were used for manufacturing during WWII and have been left abandoned and dilapidated. These three target areas were selected due to: (1) high underserved minority population; (2) high number of identified and potential brownfield sites; (3) proximity to existing redevelopment projects; (4) existing economic development strategies and revitalization plans; and (5) proximity to five federally designated Opportunity Zones (OZ) with environmental justice inadequacies.
The Background
EPA Brownfield Sites Assessment Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. The Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act of 2002, as amended by the Brownfields Utilization, Investment, and Local Development Act of 2018, was passed to help states and communities around the country clean up and revitalize brownfields sites. Under this law, EPA provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through four competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants. Additionally, funding support is provided to state tribal response programs through a separate mechanism.
First Steps: Site inventory, Assessments & Outreach
Identifying Sites
Beginning October 1, 2023, we will begin working with residents living in the target areas during community meetings to create a thorough site inventory for assessment. Although initial sites were identified in the grant proposal, abandoned, and underutilized properties identified during community outreach activities will be researched further by CED staff and grant consultants to evaluate their qualifications for inclusion in the determination of eligibility.
Brownfields Eligibility Determination
Brownfields eligibility determination is a very complex process, sometimes not straightforward, and thorough evaluation with the environmental consultant’s assistance is required. EPA review and approval is required.
- There is no viable responsible party, i.e. there may be potential contamination at the site. However, based on the available information, either the responsible party is nowhere to be found or it is not clear who the responsible party is or the responsible party is not financially capable.
- The site is not subject to a corrective action order under Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
- The site was acquired with All Appropriate Inquiry or involuntarily (tax closure, abandonment, etc.) or the site was acquired prior to a certain timeframe.
- The current and immediate past owner did not dispose of contamination and/or exacerbate the contamination.
- The site is not on or proposed to be on the National Priority List.
- There are several other factors that need to be thoroughly evaluated with the environmental consultant’s assistance. If necessary, discussions will be conducted with EPA.
Community Benefit & Outreach
Community engagement and participation is crucial to the success of this Assessment Grant.
Community meetings will keep the public informed on project plans and provide project updates. Interested property owners and residents can receive more information, suggest potential sites, and ask questions. Watch for our community meeting dates to be published on this website or sign up/stay in touch below to be notified.
Scheduled Community Meetings
Tuesday, November 14th
9am-10:30am
Lockport City Hall
222 E. Ninth Street
Lockport, IL 60441
REGISTER HERE
(Registration not required)
Tuesday, November 14th
4pm-5:30pm
Joliet Public Library
McGuire Room
150 N. Ottawa Street
Joliet, IL 60432
REGISTER HERE
(Registration not required)