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RESOURCES

Staff
Erica Anderson
Director of Economic and Community Development

Regional Brownfields Initiative


What is the Regional Brownfields Initiative?

In 2002, Land of Sky Regional Council began a long-term program to address the assessment, cleanup and redevelopment of the region’s Brownfields. Under the guidance of economic development professionals, environmental consultants, financial institutions and community leaders, the Regional Brownfields Initiative promotes the “utilization of existing industrial sites” a primary strategy in the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).

RBI Structure 
The Regional Brownfields Initiative is directed by the Brownfields Advisory Group which is charged with serving in an advisory capacity for the Initiative. The committee is composed of members from Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, and Transylvania Counties, representatives from financial institutions, legal firms, environmental consulting groups, regional non-profits, economic developers, state representatives, Land of Sky Regional Council staff and others. 

This Brownfields Advisory Group steers the activities of four workgroups which are charged with executing specific grant work plan tasks. Their focus is on funding possibilities, site selection, consultant selection, and public outreach. These workgroups are composed of Advisory Group members and other community volunteers with interests in Brownfields. 

The Land of Sky Regional Council internal team monitors grant progress, reports to the RBI funders, addresses internal needs of the program, and scans for future Brownfields opportunities. 

Since 2003, the Regional Brownfields Initiative has provided funding to over 30 sites for Phase I, Phase II and cleanup assistance. Sites are located throughout Region B which includes Buncombe, Madison, Henderson and Transylvania Counties.  Click here to view information on these sites.

Click here to view the 2013 RBI Brownfields Assessment application.


Loan Funds Available to Clean Up Brownfields Properties

The Regional Brownfields Initiative (RBI) operates a Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Program to assist eligible owners of Brownfields sites in the cleanup of their properties.

The Program provides attractive rate loans and subgrants to facilitate the cleanup of abandoned or underused properties in order to revitalize these properties, and to protect the environment and public health.

Click here for more information.

The RBI works closely with the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR) Brownfields Program. The Brownfields Project Manager for WNC is located at Land of Sky Regional Council, providing the RBI with excellent support.

If you are interested in applying to the State program, click on the links to the guidance documents at www.ncbrownfields.org.  This links you to North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Division of Waste Management’s brownfields site.

The RBI receives funding for its programs from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and works with staff located in Region IV (Atlanta). The Federal EPA’s website contains information and news about the National Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment Program.

 The EPA’s Region 4 website includes NC.


EPA Brownfields Grants

  Assessment Grants Cleanup Grants Revolving Loan Fund Grants
Eligible Applicants Units of local government, non-profits, COGs; the program is currently managed through the Regional Brownfields Initiative (RBI) Municipalities and non-profits; grantee must have the ability to manage an EPA grant. Currently the RBI can write a proposal and manage the grant, if awarded. For profit developers cannot apply. Local governments; non-profits. Grantee must show ability to manage EPA grants. The RBI currently manages the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Program for the region. The region extends east to the I-77 corridor.
Eligible Uses Phase I and Phase II environmental assessments, cleanup planning Cleanup of environmental issues; professional services; public outreach, more. Cleanup of environmental issues; professional services; public outreach, more.
Amount Available $200,000 for hazardous substance grants; $200,000 for petroleum grants Up to $200,000 per site Grants available up to $1M
Match Required None 20% match, can be cash, in-kind, labor or materials. 20% match, can be cash, in-kind, labor or materials.
Special Requirements Applications are scored on a combination of need (economic, environmental, and social) and the real potential for redevelopment. Proposals with a development plan score higher than those without.

Applicant must own the site at time of application; site must be deemed eligible by EPA; Davis Bacon wage rates apply. Petroleum sites must be rated low-risk by NCDENR. Applicant cannot be the responsible party or cannot have contributed to environmental issues.

Grantee determines program guidelines. Subgrants to local governments and non-profits limited to $200,000 per site; generally no limit on loans. Davis Bacon wage rates apply for cleanup projects. Site must be deemed eligible by EPA. Applicant cannot be the responsible party or cannot have contributed to environmental issues. Applicants must show environmental, economic benefits and proof of ability to repay loans.

Application Windows Annually, announcements generally in September or October, applications due December or January. Annually, announcements generally in September or October, applications due December or January. Bi-annually, announcements generally in September or October, applications due December or January. * no applications in 2015.
General Applications can be site-specific or community-wide. If community –wide, target areas must be identified. Application must contain the Phase II report, analysis of cleanup alternatives and cost estimate. Cleanup project must be completed in 24 months. RLF recipients may make intra-governmental loans under the new Brownfields law.