By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $1 million to the Region 1 Planning Council to conduct environmental assessments and develop cleanup and reuse plans for polluted brownfield sites in Winnebago and Boone counties.
Brownfields are former industrial or commercial sites where potential or real environmental hazards prevent developers from reusing the property. The planning council will use the funds to conduct 56 environmental assessments and develop eight cleanup plans, five reuse plans and foster community involvement in the process.
Its work will largely happen in Rockford, Loves Park and Belvidere.
“This funding allows R1 and its partners — Boone County, Winnebago County and Rockford Mass Transit District — to assess the need for brownfield remediation along critical industrial corridors, ultimately positioning the two-county region for private investment and redevelopment,” Loves Park Mayor Greg Jury, board chairman of the planning council, said in a news release.
Related: Former Nelson Knitting factory, a brownfield site, could be destined for demolition
One of the focus areas for the planning council is the North Second Street corridor from Windsor Road to Forest Hills Road. That area has several former gas stations, which creates brownfield sites, said Eric Setter, land bank coordinator for Region 1. Other focus area include the Auburn Street corridor, Broadway corridor and downtown Belvidere.
“All these areas have historic industrial uses that may lead to brownfield sites,” he said.
R1’s award is part of $7.3 million the U.S. EPA awarded to Illinois communities. More than $4 million of that went to northern and northwestern Illinois, according to U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, a Rockford native who represents the area. The city of Freeport received nearly $1.76 million for its own brownfield cleanup and assessment efforts.
“Too many communities in central and northwestern Illinois struggle with pollution and other environmental challenges from decades ago,” Sorensen said in a news release. “I’m thrilled to join the Environmental Protection Agency to announce over $4 million to revitalize burdened areas and set them up for economic success. Efforts like these will result in a healthier, stronger region for generations to come.”
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The city of Rockford is already working with the EPA on brownfield sites that include the former Nelson Knitting factory, 909 S. Main St., and a razed industrial site at 1800 Broadway, to name a few. It prepped the former Barber-Colman complex for years, and that 17-acre site now is nearing a deal for redevelopment.
“Winnebago County, along with Boone County and Rockford Mass Transit District as partners, welcome the funding to accommodate brownfield assessments of industrial corridors that are vital to the regional economy,” Winnebago County Board Chairman Joe Chiarelli said. “Our region will be better positioned for private investment and redevelopment along these corridors thanks to the U.S. EPA’s award.”
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.