Brownfield - Mecosta County EDC, MI

Program Overview

In December 2014, Mecosta County signed contract documents with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for $400,000 in Brownfield Assessment Grants: $200,000 for sites believed to be contaminated with non-petroleum based hazardous substances and $200,000 for sites believed to be contaminated with petroleum. These grants assisted in the characterization and environmental assessment of properties throughout Mecosta County. The grant represented the second time that Mecosta County has been selected to administer the program. Grant funded projects impacted 33 different sites and returned close to $20 million of inactive property back to useful purposes. The program exhausted these funds as of October 31, 2016 and is currently pursuing new opportunities for the Brownfield Authority.

Redevelopment and reuse of urbanized areas is an essential component to maintain a vibrant economic foundation in manufacturing and commercial activity while preserving the agricultural heritage of the county. These grants also provided the necessary funding to make significant progress toward prioritizing the eventual development of targeted properties.

The assessment grants enabled Mecosta County to prepare an inventory of sites suspected to be contaminated with either hazardous substances or petroleum. In addition, the grants will allowed for the completion of Phase I and Phase II Environmental Assessments, Baseline Environmental Assessments, Cleanup Plans (to include but not be limited to Remedial Action and Due Care Plans), and Brownfield Redevelopment Plans on the highest priority sites, or for sites that have an immediate potential for development.

The site inventory will determine the need for additional resources. If a site is determined to be a Facility, local, state and federal Brownfield incentives can be utilized to redevelop the site. Once the site inventory has been completed and targeted properties have been assessed, the county will market the sites for development, and may apply for cleanup funds through the State of Michigan’s Revolving Loan Fund or other sources, as well as assist in packaging incentives for developers.

Those wishing more information on the Mecosta County Brownfield Redevelopment program are encouraged to contact the Mecosta County Development Corporation at 231-592-3403, or by email at jsandy@mecostacounty.org .

The current grant cycle expired at the end of October 2016.

Brownfield Program Accomplishments

To date, Mecosta County has utilized its brownfield assessment grants to leverage over $1,000,000 in private investment, resulting in the retention/creation of nearly 90 jobs in the community. Several local businesses have relied on the grant program to assist in obtaining financing for property acquisitions or improvements. Many of these loans have originated from the U.S. Small Businesses Administration (SBA), which has very stringent environmental assessment requirements in order to secure funding. For example, a local dealership was able to purchase inventory and retain local jobs by utilizing grant funds to qualify for SBA funding. The grant program has enabled developers to acquire brownfields and evaluate the challenges of site redevelopment. An environmental evaluation of the former Striketown Bowling Center in Big Rapids Township allowed a developer to renovate the building to house the local Michigan Works! offices. A local community bank was able to expand their services to customers by relying on the grant program to assist with the acquisition and redevelopment of an abandoned drive-through restaurant. Mecosta County has also used its grant funds to evaluate the unknown environmental conditions of several vacant properties, thereby making the sites more marketable. The County’s grant program continues to fuel the momentum of local economic development by acting as a catalyst in the creation of new businesses that support the community. Projects completed to date under the grant program are listed below.

Address	Grant Type	PPN	Project Name	Scope of Work	Acreage
195 Rose Avenue, Barryton	Hazardous Substances	54-04-891-050-000	Former Scrap Tire Facility	Phase II ESA and Due Care Plan	11
14372 Northland Drive, Big Rapids Township	Hazardous Substances	54-05-023-016-000	Former Striketown Bowling Center	Phase I & II ESA, Asbestos and Lead-Bearing Paint Assessment, and BEA	3
226 Perry Street, Big Rapids	Hazardous Substances	54-17-15-435-006	Former Checkers Restaurant	Phase I ESA	0.6
400 & 414 North State Street, Big Rapids	Petroleum	54-17-11-309-009, 54-17-11-309-008	Former Sinclair Oil	Phase I ESA	0.4
101 Maple Street, Big Rapids	Hazardous Substances	54-17-11-359-003	Former Trimarco Auto	Phase I ESA	1
19168 4th Street, Chippewa Lake	Hazardous Substances	54-03-892-002-900	Former Farm Repair Shop	Phase I ESA	1
502 North State Street, Big Rapids	Hazardous Substances	54-17-11-303-002	Former Pioneer Press	Phase I ESA	0.6
906 North State Street, Big Rapids	Hazardous Substances	54-17-11-120-001	Hanchett Manufacturing	Phase I ESA	5
18387 Northland Drive, Green Township	Petroleum	54-01-033-030-500	Marco Dealership	Phase I & II ESA	11.5
100 North Cass Street, Morley	Hazardous Substances	54-13-891-063-000	Former Kitson Manufacturing	Phase I ESA	0.5
1204 North State Street, Big Rapids	Hazardous Substances/ Petroleum	54-17-03-460-010	Former Larsen Muffler	Phase I & II ESA and BEA	1
14 & 36 Northland Drive, Stanwood	Hazardous Substances/ Petroleum	54-09-891-049-000, 54-09-891-049-500, 54-09-891-050-000, 54-09-891-051-500	Former Buffalo Inn and Market	Phase I & II ESA and BEA	1
230 Baldwin Street, Big Rapids	Hazardous Substances	54-17-11-153-005	Former River Rock Restaurant	Phase I & II ESA and BEA	0.6
169 West Wheatland Avenue, Remus	Petroleum	54-12-087-010-000	Former Remus Plaza	Phase I ESA	0.7
213 South State Street, Big Rapids	Hazardous Substances	54-17-14-105-007, 54-17-14-105-015	Crankers Coney Island	Phase I & II ESA	0.8

A map showing the locations of these sites can be accessed here.

Brownfield Authority Board Members

Members of the Brownfield Authority Board are listed below. Board members are appointed by the County Board of Commissioners for three year terms that can be renewed at the discretion of the County Board. In addition, the County Administrator and the Executive Director of the Mecosta County Development Corporation serve as resource and support staff to the Authority Board. The Brownfield Authority has been empowered by the County Board of Commissioners to oversee the implementation of the county's Brownfield Redevelopment Program and to make recommendations concerning the use of environmental grant funds.

John Currie, Chair 13765 14 Mile Road Rodney, MI 49342	Dave Hamelund, Vice Chair 17256 Taft Ave. Big Rapids, MI 49307
Thomas Crandell 23104 13 Mile Road Big Rapids, MI 49307	Paul Bullock 400 Elm St. Big Rapids, MI 49307
Mindy Taylor 400 Elm St. Big Rapids, MI 49307
Jerrilynn Strong 400 Elm St. Big Rapids, MI 49307

Support Staff:

James M. Sandy, Recording Secretary
   14330 Northland Drive
   Big Rapids, MI 49307

Program Overview

Brownfield Program Accomplishments

Brownfield Authority Board Members