Eastern Montana Brownfield Coalition receives $500,000 in supplemental funding

On June 16 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $500,000 in supplemental funding to the Eastern Montana Brownfield Coalition which includes Great Northern Development Corporation (GNDC), Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation (EPEDC) and Southeastern Montana Development Corporation (SEMDC) to clean up and redevelop contaminated brownfield properties in eastern Montana. GNDC is the administrator of the Eastern Montana Brownfield Coalition. The Eastern Montana Brownfield Coalition serves the counties of Valley, Daniels, Sheridan, Roosevelt, Garfield, McCone, Prairie, Dawson, Wibaux, Fallon, Carter, Custer, Rosebud, Treasure and Powder River.

GNDC is one of 27 awardees nationwide that has demonstrated success in using previously awarded Brownfields Revolving Loan Funding (RLF) grants to clean up and redevelop brownfield sites. This investment is an important part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to address environmental justice issues in underserved communities.

“The Great Northern Development Corporation will use this supplemental funding to continue its vital work to clean up brownfield sites across eastern Montana,” said Acting Regional Administrator Debra H. Thomas. “EPA is committed to providing support to rural communities that rely on funding to improve environmental conditions, drive economic growth and make their communities healthier, safer and more vibrant.”

GNDC and their Eastern Montana Brownfields Coalition will use the supplemental funding for cleanup loans and grants in Poplar, Jordan, Baker, Glendive, and other communities in eastern Montana. The Coalition has issued over $1 million in cleanup loans and grants in one of the most rural parts of the country.

"We are excited to receive this additional funding for our RLF as it will allow the Eastern Montana Brownfields Coalition to continue our redevelopment work in 15 counties in Eastern Montana,” said Executive Director of the Eastern Montana Brownfields Coalition Tori Matejovsky. “The awarded supplemental funds will be utilized to follow through with the cleanup of sites previously assessed with the Eastern Montana Brownfields Coalition Assessment grants and will provide additional resources for our many small communities to increase their tax base, remove blight from long-ignored areas and create the possibility for new employment opportunities.”

Brownfield RLF grants enable funding for communities to provide loans and sub-grants for cleanup activities at brownfield sites. When loans are repaid, the loan amount is returned into the fund and re-lent to other borrowers, providing an ongoing source of capital within a community.

For more information about the Brownfield Program or a potential project, please contact Shelli Isle at [email protected] or (406) 653-2590.