EPA Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund

In 2012, the Wasatch Brownfields Coalition was awarded $1 million dollars to be used as capital in an EPA Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF).

These funds, in the form of low interest loans and grants, are made available to eligible private, public, and nonprofit entities seeking to cleanup and redevelop brownfield* sites throughout Salt Lake County and Ogden city.

* Brownfields are defined as real property where the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of contamination.

Community & Economic Importance of Redeveloping Brownfield Sites

As underdeveloped lands -- greenfields -- continue to disappear, there is a need to redevelop and reuse brownfield sites that often already have buildings, infrastructure, and access to transportation resources in place.

Redeveloping a brownfield site can revitalize a neighborhood by:

• Creating jobs,
• Increasing the tax base,
• Mitigating threats to human health and the environment, and
• Reducing blight.

Eyesores such as old, abandoned gas stations or dilapidated factories can be transformed into productive commercial and industrial parks, vibrant recreation areas, residential space, or other needed amenities. It is estimated that for every $1 spent on brownfields cleanup activities, cities and states produce or leverage $2.48 in private investment.  And for every acre of brownfield redevelopment, 4.5 acres of greenfields are preserved.

• Fact Sheet 
• Policies & Procedures
• Interlocal Agreement
• Loan Board

Ogden Business Exchange

Loans are available to governmental entities and other persons, such as site owners or developers, provided they are not responsible parties under CERCLA section 107.  Loans are available in the amount of $10,000 and up, but are not to exceed $500,000 per project site. Loan terms will not exceed 10 years. The standard interest rate schedule is:

• 0-3 years: 0%
• 4-5 years: 1%
• 6-7 years: 2%
• 8-10 years: 3%

Subgrants are available only to government and nonprofit entities and may not exceed $200,000 per cleanup site.

Loans and subgrants may be used for cleanup of the following two types of Brownfields sites:

1. Hazardous substances release sites
2. Petroleum sites

Projects can take advantage of one or both branches of funding.

Property(ies) must meet the CERCLA definition of a Brownfields site: “Real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.” 

Eligibility Checklist

Step One:  

Review the "Eligibility/Terms" tab to ensure you are eligible to apply for a loan and/or subgrant.

Step Two:

If eligible, fill out an application and submit all additional required documentation along with the proper application fee. Electronic submissions are highly preferred, though paper hard-copies will be accepted. Applications and supplemental documentation are to be sent to Salt Lake County's Revolving Loan Fund Manager.

• Printable-Loan Process Overview
• Application
• Email the RLF Manager

Step Three:

(a) Enroll in Utah Department of Environmental Quality's (UDEQ's) Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) and; (b) develop a Community Relations Plan, which is to be submitted if the loan/subgrant is awarded.

• UDEQ Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP)
• Community Relations Plan Checklist
• Community Relations Plan Template

Step Four:

As part of Wasatch Brownfields Coalition's efforts at transparency, applicants must submit a Project Sheet.  Should the project receive funding, the project sheet will be visible on this website (see the "Projects Awarded" tab).

• Project Sheet (Microsoft Publisher File)

Priority will be given to projects that seek to engage local residents and communities through all stages of the project, including linking residents to the jobs created by the project, and to projects that incorporate transportation elements (either new or existing) into the redevelopment plan.

Additional Forms

• Property Profile Form
• Eligible Expenses Tracking Sheet
• Fund Disbursement Request

Loan Board Meetings & Minutes

Brownfield Board Meetings can be viewed each month via Regional Development's Facebook page livestream video.

Useful Links & Resources

Anatomy of Brownfield Redevelopment

Envision Utah's Brownfield Book

Salt Lake County

• Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund (EDRLF)

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• Apply for Brownfields Grant Funding
• Benefits of Brownfields Reclamation
• Brownfields
• Brownfields Site-Region 8
• Cleanup Grants & Funding
• Environmental Workforce Development & Job Training Grant Program
• Targeted Brownfields Assessment-Region 8
• Tiger Discretionary Grants

Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ)

• Brownfields Program | Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP)

News

Congratulations to Centro Civico Mexicano (CCM)! The Board voted to award CCM a $200,000 grant to help clean-up their property in downtown Salt Lake City.   11.29.2016 News Release

• Deseret News | Centro Civico Mexicano wins $400K in grants for cleanup, renovations
• The Salt Lake Tribune | Centro Civico Mexicano and Latino community to get a big, new home
• Good 4 Utah | Centro Civico Mexicano gets $200 K grant from EPA to cleanup and redevelop