Ryan Announces Brownfields Redevelopment Grant for the City of Mt. Vernon

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today announced the City of Mt. Vernon has been awarded a $48,032 Brownfields Redevelopment Grant from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA).

The City of Mt. Vernon asked the IEPA to perform a Brownfields Site Assessment at the former National Railway Equipment site in December of 1999. Sampling was conducted of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) closure areas in early 2000.

After receiving the results, it was determined the additional sampling was necessary to completely satisfy RCRA closure requirements. Mt. Vernon intends to use the grant funds to perform additional sampling to determine the best remedial action alternatives for completing (RCRA) closure requirements.

Governor Ryan noted that 30 communities have now been awarded grants under the Brownfields Redevelopment Grant program, which began July 1, 1998. Illinois communities have received nearly $2.5 million to date, for environmental assessments of Brownfields sites. The grant recipients have been Illinois municipalities ranging from under 2,000 to nearly 3 million in population.

"Although communities are eligible for grants up to $120,000, the average grant is just around $90,000. This assistance can be the catalyst that will return sites to productive use that have previously been community eyesores and potential hazards to citizens and environment," Ryan commented.

Communities can also apply to the Illinois Brownfields Redevelopment Loan Program, which is funded by Illinois FIRST. Loans can be used for both site assessment and remedial activities. The Brownfields grant and loan programs are designed to work together to help communities complete a redevelopment project.