BROWNFIELD FUNDING HELPS JUMPSTART PROJECTS
An ambitious project is well on its way in Eau Claire, Wisconsin: reclaiming approximately 30 acres of former industrial land along the Chippewa River and developing it to include a major event center; wellness, aquatics, and recreation facilities; a River Education Center; potential commercial, mixed-use, or hotel properties; and the potential for improved trails and access to the river. The work will be completed in phases with a total project cost expected to exceed $ 80 million.
It’ s a private-public partnership among several entities that share a common goal of improving the land for the public good, which is also the overall goal of state and federal brownfield funding programs. The programs help communities assess environmental contamination at a site, clean up any contamination, and reclaim properties to benefit the region.
“ Often, a brownfield grant is the first step – the first outside funding that helps a project move beyond the planning stage,” said Scott Wilson, a vice president at Ayres Associates who works closely with communities to help them find project funding opportunities.“ That investment and the improvement it funds bring energy to help a project progress.”
The Eau Claire project recently was awarded two U. S. Environmental Protection Agency( EPA) brownfield clean-up grants totaling $ 400,000.
The funds will be used to clean up contaminated soils on a portion of the acreage. The project also received a $ 500,000 redevelopment grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Idle Sites program – the largest award possible from the program. That funding source helps communities implement development plans for industrial sites that have been idle, abandoned, or underused for at least five years.
Both awards require matching funds, and that’ s where Ayres’ expertise helps during the planning and application processes.
“ We were able to coordinate applications so the awards serve as matching dollars for each other,” Wilson said.“ That really stretches the local dollars available for the project.”
As projects move forward, Ayres continues strategizing with communities to find ways to mix and match funds to make the most of potential project dollars.
“ We try to use the funding our communities are receiving – state and federal – to leverage even more funding opportunities,” Wilson said.“ Funding agencies have a responsibility to weigh the likelihood of project success when they’ re considering an application. The more investment in the project, the more progress in the project, and the more likely funding agencies will favorably consider an application.”
It’ s a strategy that’ s helped Ayres’ clients in five states receive brownfields funds and move project vision toward project completion: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
“ They hired us to help combine all potential funding sources for the benefit of the community,” Wilson said.“ It’ s a strategy that works.”
– Kay Kruse-Stanton
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