$2.25 million available to property owners for cleanup and revitalization of local Brownfields

Property owners throughout Eastern Montana with environmental cleanup and revitalization needs may have an opportunity to secure funding resources following a $2.25 million grant issued recently to the Great Northern Development Corporation.

At the end of May, GNDC announced its grant award from the Environmental Protection Agency, authorized under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help fund “dozens of assessment, cleanup and redevelopment projects” on properties that require an EPA Brownfields Study.

Properties requiring a Brownfields Study are those that contain – or potentially contain – hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants beneath the ground.

“Our mission is really to revitalize and clean up properties that maybe have perceived or known contamination,” GNDC Executive Director Tori Matejovsky said.

Matejovsky added the GNDC is working in conjunction with partners that make up the Eastern Montana Brownfields Coalition, originally established in 2005, to identify projects in need of funding.

The EMBC is made up of the Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation, Southeast Montana Economic Development out of Colstrip and the GNDC, Matejovsky noted.

“This is a way to help property owners and communities kind of even that gap out a little bit to make it viable and feasible for some of these properties to be redeveloped and reused,” she said.

“GNDC is receiving these funds as a high-performing Revolving Loan Fund program with an established record of success in cleaning up and revitalizing properties across Eastern Montana,” EPA Region 8 Administrator KC Becker said in a press release. “We look forward to seeing these EMBC projects improve the health and safety of communities and bring new business opportunities to the area.”

The EPA awarded 75% of the GNDC’s original request of $3 million, which Matejovsky is proud of and excited that the funds will go towards local projects throughout Eastern Montana.

“These funds have local control,” she said. “We have to follow lending guidelines set down by EPA, but as far as EPA coming in and demanding cleanup or anything like that, that doesn’t happen.”

Additionally, many property owners have requested an assessment from the EMBC, making them ready to receive grant funding from the GNDC should they get awarded.

In the EPA’s press release, it refers to the GNDC’s partnership with the City of Glendive and Dawson County Economic Development Corporation to “clean up and explore redevelopment uses for the Jordan Inn … as mixed-income rental units and retail space on nearly an entire block on (Merrill Avenue).”

Matejovsky explained it is not planned at this time to fund cleanup or revitalization of the Jordan Inn, however it is a project she would like to see funded some time in the future.

“We have not committed funds to that project,” she said. “We have not agreed to loan any funds to the property owner or any other organization, but that project was listed because we have invested funds there (in the past).”

For Dawson County, one project the GNDC is considering moving forward with is cleanup of the El Centro Motel that was purchased by the Dawson County Commissioners last year.

According to Matejovsky, it is ultimately the decision of the EMBC Board of Directors which projects are awarded funding.

“That board ultimately makes the decision on what projects get funded,” she said.

The grant will help advance the cleanup and revitalization of more properties than the EPA’s Brownfields program normally can fund in one year.

“As far as I understand, this is a one-time shot in the arm kind of thing,” Matejovsky said.

U.S. Senator Jon Tester also attested to the benefit the grant will have on communities throughout Montana in the EPA’s press release, as he had a hand in securing the funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“Cleaning up and revitalizing Montana’s remaining Brownfields sites breathes new life into our communities by creating some real opportunities for economic development,” Tester said. “That’s why I am proud to have secured this funding in my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for cleanup projects across Big Sky Country to spur economic growth and improve the quality of life for folks from Glendive to Kalispell.”