Brownfields are real property, the expansion, development or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 awarded the City of Rockford a $500,000 Cooperative Agreement under the Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements program (CFDA 66.818), effective July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2029. This award funds the City to conduct assessment and cleanup-related activities on brownfield properties in Rockford, Illinois, as authorized under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Section 104(k)(2). The City will inventory, characterize, and assess contaminated properties while developing cleanup plans and engaging the community in the remediation process. To support these efforts, the City will competitively procure qualified environmental professionals to conduct environmental site assessments and will report interim progress and final accomplishments through the EPA's Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES).

Anticipated deliverables under this Cooperative Agreement include conducting 25 Phase I and 12 Phase II environmental site assessments, hosting community meetings, developing site-specific cleanup plans and alternatives analyses, preparing planning documents to facilitate brownfield revitalization, and submitting quarterly progress reports. No sub-awards are included in this assistance agreement. The work is expected to benefit residents, business owners, and stakeholders in and around Rockford, a city located in Winnebago County that is the third-largest municipality in Illinois.

This agreement will provide funding for the city of rockford to conduct eligible assessment-related activities as authorized by cerlca 104(k)(2) in rockford, illinois. Activities:specifically, this agreement will provide funding to the recipient to inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct cleanup planning and community involvement related activities. Additionally, the recipient will competitively procure (as needed) and direct a qualified environmental professional to conduct environmental site activities. Also, the recipient will report on interim progress and final accomplishments by completing and submitting relevant portions of the property profile form using EPA's assessment, cleanup and redevelopment exchange system (acres). Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:further, the recipient anticipates conducting 25 phase i and 12 phase II environmental site assessments, holding community meetings, developing site-specific cleanup plans/analysis of brownfield cleanup alternatives, developing planning documents to initiate brownfields revitalization, and submitting quarterly reports. Work conducted under this agreement will benefit the residents, business owners, and stakeholders in and near the city of rockford, illinois.