Brownfields 2025
Revitalizing Communities Through Brownfield Redevelopment
Mission West Community Development Partners is dedicated to transforming underutilized and contaminated properties into vibrant assets. Our Brownfield Program provides expertise and resources to assess for environmental contaminants and plan for redevelopment, fostering economic growth and environmental health across Lake, Sanders and Mineral Counties.
Brownfields: Definition, Role, and Regional Focus
Brownfields are properties whose redevelopment is complicated by the presence or perception of environmental contamination. Addressing these sites is crucial for community well-being and economic vitality.
Mission West's Role
Mission West helps property owners and communities overcome these challenges by providing expertise and resources to assess for environmental contaminants and plan for redevelopment, transforming liabilities into opportunities.
Counties Served
Our Brownfields Program serves Lake, Sanders and Mineral Counties, offering focused, regional support for site assessment and planning efforts.
Impacts of Brownfields
When left idle, brownfield properties can lead to health concerns for humans and animals, environmental worries, reduced property values, underused infrastructure, and potential lawsuits.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are examples of Brownfields sites?
Examples of Brownfields Sites include, but are not limited to:
- Former gas stations and auto repair shops
- Pesticide/herbicide/chemical handling facilities
- Landfills and illegal dump sites
- Industrial manufacturers and warehouses
- Dry cleaners and wood treatment facilities
- Gravel pits
- Buildings containing asbestos, lead-based paint, or other hazardous building materials
- Properties that may have been used to produce methamphetamine
What is the purpose of a site assessment?
Environmental site assessments determine the nature and extent of contamination. These assessments can be used to satisfy purchaser concerns, regulatory agency requirements, or simply to determine whether environmental contamination exists on a property.
Can you help me with clean-up costs?
Our brownfield's program does not have funding for supporting clean-up costs at this time. We can discuss your project and determine if there are potential funding streams for assisting with your site.
What is the assessment process?
The typical assessment process involves the following steps:
- Determine Eligibility (Process to be developed once RFQP is complete)
- Complete Phase I and/or Phase II Environmental Site Assessments
- Estimate site contaminant risks
- Estimate clean-up costs, if needed
- Develop conceptual cleanup or reuse plans
BROWNFIELDS ASSESSMENT REQUEST
Mission West Community Development Partners offers free environmental site assessments through our EPA Brownfields Program for eligible properties in Lake, Sanders, and Mineral Counties.
This program supports property owners and eligible applicants seeking to identify environmental conditions, remove barriers to redevelopment, and plan for productive reuse of underutilized or potentially contaminated sites.
APPLICATION STATUS
The Request for Qualifications and Proposals (RFQP) process has concluded.
Property owners and eligible applicants may now submit a Brownfields Assessment Request for review and consideration.
HOW TO APPLY
Complete the Brownfields Assessment Request Form to provide basic information about the property, site history, potential contamination, and anticipated reuse or community benefit.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed based on eligibility, program priorities, and available funding.
Meet Our Program Manager
Karl Sutton
REAP Specialist & Brownfields Program ManagerKarl Sutton serves as Mission West’s REAP (Rural Energy for America Program) specialist and Brownfields Program Manager. Karl provides grant writing assistance to rural businesses and agricultural producers in applying for funding to assist with energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy generation and assists property owners with accessing brownfields environment assessment and clean up planning technical resources.