Ottawa County receives $500,000 to support brownfield redevelopment
EPA funding will be used to offset costs
of environmental site assessments
With 24 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and over 30 miles of the Grand River flowing through its borders, Ottawa County's economic fortunes have always been linked with water access. Although this legacy of shoreline commerce and development helped to build the County we know today, it also left behind a legacy of abandoned, underutilized, and sometimes contaminated sites in need of revitalization.
Now, thanks to a $500,000 Brownfield Assessment Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more of these waterfront sites can be better positioned for restoration and redevelopment.
Announced by the EPA on May 16, Ottawa County was one of 207 communities selected nationwide through a competitive grant process to receive funding from a pool of $224 million for Brownfield Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (ARC) grants.
"We're extremely grateful to receive this funding to jumpstart brownfield development on priority sites within the County," said Agriculture & Economic Resources Coordinator Becky Huttenga.
 Funds from the 2020 EPA grant helped support site assessment at Terra Station, a 12-building, mixed-use complex currently under construction in Hudsonville. [Rendering by Integrated Architecture]
This is the third time Ottawa County has received funds for site assessment from the EPA since the Ottawa County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (OCBRA) was first established in 2008. Previous grants have made a major impact locally: With a $400,000 award in 2013, the County was able to assist 34 different projects and leverage an estimated $35.6 million worth of investment into brownfield properties. A $300,000 award in 2020 enabled the County to assist 29 different projects and leverage an estimated $90 million.
With around 140 known contaminated sites in Grand Haven, particularly along the Grand River corridor, and 163 contaminated and blighted properties in Holland (many of which are located along the north and east end of Lake Macatawa), these federal dollars can have a major impact on protecting local waterways and fuel waterfront development.
The grant funds will be used primarily for Phase I environmental site assessments, which helps reveal current property conditions and any possible environmental threats; and Phase II assessments, which are conducted if any known or potential contamination has been found on a property. A smaller portion of funds are earmarked for general cleanup planning, which includes brownfield redevelopment plans and/or due care and compliance reports, or other analyses. How many assessments can be conducted will vary based on the properties selected, but it is estimated that roughly 34 can be funded. View this EPA fact sheet for more information on site assessments.
"Often the biggest barrier to redeveloping these sites is the unknown costs," said Huttenga. "This grant support will allow us to significantly increase site evaluations, ensuring that developers know what to expect."
Having knowledge about a property's environmental situation can be an effective marketing tool. With potential obstacles to redevelopment known, developers may be more likely to consider these properties for projects.
Although primarily intended to support sites in the cities of Holland and Grand Haven, the funding may also be used elsewhere following a thorough site selection process overseen by OCBRA. More information on how to access these grant funds will be made available once the grant agreement between the County and the EPA is put in place.
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