Frequently Asked Questions

Brownfields are vacant and underutilized properties previously used for industrial or commercial activities that may have resulted in contamination from petroleum or hazardous substances, but can be cleaned up and reused.

Property owners, businesses and developers who cleanup and reuse brownfields provide benefits to themselves and their communities, including:

• Removing unknowns regarding site conditions that might hold up a sale or redevelopment.
• Increasing return from the property by making it more valuable and marketable.
• Contributing to economic prosperity and environmental restoration in the community.
• Making neighborhoods safer and healthier.
• Avoiding actions by regulatory agencies that may impose penalties and costly cleanups.
• Reducing the potential that adjacent properties could be impacting their property (and vice versa).

Grant funding can be used to inventory, assess, and conduct cleanup/reuse planning for priority sites.