Cooperative Agreement Summary

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 awarded Cass County, Michigan a $300,000 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. The agreement funds comprehensive assessment and planning activities to address brownfield properties—real property whose reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. Cass County will conduct environmental site assessments, inventory and characterize contaminated properties, develop cleanup and financing plans, and facilitate community involvement activities to support the remediation and redevelopment of priority brownfield sites within the county.

Specific deliverables include conducting 13 Phase I Environmental Site Assessments and 9 Phase II Environmental Site Assessments; developing 6 financing and leveraging plans for priority sites; creating 1 cleanup plan; hosting community meetings; and submitting 16 quarterly progress reports through the EPA's Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES). The recipient will competitively procure and direct qualified environmental professionals to execute the technical site assessment activities. This funding benefits residents, business owners, and stakeholders throughout Cass County by facilitating the assessment and revitalization of blighted and underutilized properties. No sub-awards are included in this assistance agreement.