KPAX News | May 24, 2016 | by Amy Pholphiboun

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is pumping some money into Northwest Montana projects through a recently awarded grant.

Only two grants in the Treasure State -- totaling $600,000 -- were awarded to the City of Kalispell and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes by the EPA.

It's money that's now available for private commercial property owners to take that critical step towards administering an environmental assessment. Owners of sites traditionally for industrial use may not even realize the pollutants that contaminating the area.

“This is all about helping a property owner gain more information about their property that helps them then make more informed decisions about how they want to redevelop their property," said Kalispell Community Development manager Katharine Thompson.

Full KPAX story here.

Flathead Beacon | May 23, 2016 | Dillon Tabish

Kalispell was successful in its bid for another competitive federal grant that will help fuel economic redevelopment throughout the city.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Friday it was awarding $400,000 in Brownfields grant funding to Kalispell. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes will also receive $200,000.

The grant funding will go toward environmental assessments at properties targeted for reuse and redevelopment.

“I’m thrilled. This is very exciting for the city,” Katharine Thompson, Kalispell’s community development manager, said.

The remainder of the Flathead Beacon story linked here.

Brownfields grants part of $55 million to clean up and redevelop sites across the country
Press Release from the Environmental Protection Agency on 5/20/16
Contact Information: 
U.S. EPA: Ted Lanzano, 303-312-6596, lanzano.ted@epa.gov
City of Kalispell: Katharine Thompson, 406-758-7713, kthompson@kalispell.com

(Denver, Colo. - May 20, 2016)   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today awarded the City of Kalispell, Montana $400,000 and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Indian Reservation $200,000 in Brownfields grant funding to conduct critical environmental assessments at properties targeted for reuse and redevelopment. Today's announcement is among 218 new grant investments totaling $55.2 million to 131 communities across the U.S. that are underserved and economically disadvantaged, including neighborhoods where environmental cleanup and new jobs are most needed.

"EPA Brownfields grants continue to help Montana communities transform blighted properties into assets," said EPA regional administrator, Shaun McGrath. "EPA is proud to be part of these projects that are addressing contamination and creating new amenities and business opportunities."    
                                                                                            
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes will receive $200K in EPA grant resources to conduct environmental assessments at properties containing damaged buildings and abandoned mills, dumps, and vehicle junkyards in communities across the Flathead Reservation.  These assessments will inform cleanup needs and advance Tribal plans for the reuse and redevelopment of these properties.
The City of Kalispell will receive $400K in EPA grant funds to conduct targeted environmental assessments at an extensive inventory of brownfields sites within the City’s Core Area. Many of these sites are related to historic industrial uses in the area and also include former auto repair and paint shops, wrecking yards, dry cleaners and other facilities where solvents, petroleum and metals are potential contaminants. These environmental site assessments will be critical to the redevelopment of catalytic sites along a railroad corridor that has been identified by the community as a priority for redevelopment and use as a pedestrian trail and green space. 

EPA’s Brownfields program strives to expand the ability of communities to recycle vacant and abandoned properties for new, productive reuses. The investments will provide communities with the funding necessary to assess, clean up and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and leverage jobs while protecting public health and the environment. This latest funding advances EPA’s broader commitment to making a visible difference in communities by focusing on coordinating federal investments to help environmentally overburdened, underserved, and economically distressed communities address local priorities.
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There are an estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites in the United States.  Since the inception of the EPA’s Brownfields Program in 1995, cumulative brownfields program investments have leveraged more than $20 billion from a variety of public and private sources for cleanup and redevelopment activities. This equates to an average of $17.79 leveraged per EPA brownfields dollar expended. These investments have resulted in approximately 108,924 jobs nationwide. Studies have shown that residential property values near brownfields sites that are cleaned up increased between 5 and 15 percent.

KPAX News | 05-10-16 | by Amy Pholphiboun

Kalispell city leaders are developing plans to capitalize on the communities assets, aspirations, and potential to create more engaging public spaces. Watch the KPAX story here.

KPAX News | May 3, 2016 | by Amy Pholphiboun

KALISPELL - Kalispell City Council members unanimously approved the Glacier Rail Park plan on Monday.
The decision clears the way to implement a tax increment financing plan called Targeted Economic Development District (TEDD).
Officials say the purpose of the development plan is to encourage value-added industries to help revitalize a vacant lot.  
Kalispell City Planner Jarod Nygren says that this will ensure the city of Kalispell uses its resources as best of its abilities.
“It’s just another financing tool to go along with the TIGER grant to help the Glacier Rail Park develop to its fullest potential moving into the future.”
The plans will take effect in 30 days. Click here for more information.

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