Michigan awards $2M for three brownfield projects

DETROIT (AP) - The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has awarded more than $2 million to clean up brownfield sites in Detroit, Kalamazoo and Muskegon Heights. The agency announced Monday that $1 million is going to the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. for the Orleans Landing Redevelopment Project, a roughly $55 million mixed-used development including 250 residential units near Milliken State Park and Harbor along the Detroit River. "The grant will pay for environmental investigations, demolition and removal of contaminated soils and abandoned underground storage tanks, ensuring the safe reuse of the properties," the DEQ said in a statement about the project, which includes redevelopment of 25 industrial properties. Another $945,000 was awarded to the Kalamazoo Brownfield Redevelopment Authority to pay for environmental response activities at properties along Portage Creek near Upjohn Park. The work will support the new Health Focused Campus. The cooperative development between Bronson Properties Corp., Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and Kalamazoo Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is expected to bring about $42 million in new investment to the area. Muskegon Heights has been awarded $100,000. A property will be redeveloped by Versatile Fabrication, a stainless steel manufacturer and includes $2 million in investment. The grant will pay for environmental investigations, removal of contaminated soil and liability protection. -------- Online: http://www.michigan.gov/deq. Published: Wed, Jun 11, 2014