Fehr Graham, a leading Midwest engineering and environmental firm, helped clients secure $2.7 million in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding to remediate brownfields.
The U.S. EPA awarded 207 communities more than $224 million in brownfield cleanup grants. The agency also announced $42 million in supplemental funding to 34 Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant recipients to continue their brownfield projects.
The Rockford Area Arts Council won a $1.5 million cleanup grant to remove asbestos and lead-based paint in the former Armory building at 605 N. Main St. The Armory was built in the 1930s and served as the Illinois National Guard headquarters for more than half a century before becoming a famous music venue in the 1970s. The Arts Council purchased the 57,000-square-foot building from the City of Rockford for $1,000 in 2024 and plans to team up with Discovery Center Arts Museum to return the building to its artistic roots as a rehearsal, gallery and living space for artists. The Arts Council also plans to open the building to the public for weddings, proms, concerts and workshops.
Fehr Graham also helped the City of Ottawa, Illinois, win $1.2 million to clear the Jackson/Lafayette brownfield site at 429 W. Lafayette St., a former coal depot along the railroad that has been abandoned for several years. The City hopes to build a fire or police station there after the remediation.
The Rockford and Ottawa brownfield cleanup projects will be highly visible, supporting City functions and creating opportunities for housing and economic development. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin spoke at a press conference.
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The $267 million in Brownfield Grants will transform contaminated properties into valuable spaces for businesses and housing, creating new opportunities that strengthen local economies and directly benefit American families. EPA’s Brownfields program demonstrates how environmental stewardship and economic prosperity complement each other.” |
Lee Zeldin, EPA Administrator
Fehr Graham provides clients with assessment and brownfield redevelopment solutions, from hazardous material survey and remediation to Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments and cleanup coordination. The firm also helps clients apply for grant funding and manage their environmental and engineering projects.
Read the news release here and a list of grant recipients here.
More coverage about the Rockford awards:
City of Rockford Facebook post
Rock River Current
Rockford Register Star
WIFR
WTVO