March 8, 2007

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester today announced $2 million in grants and loans to Berrien County to address environmental concerns and facilitate the redevelopment of former industrial sites in the city of Benton Harbor, one of Governor Granholm's Cities of Promise.

A $1 million grant and a $1 million loan from the DEQ's Brownfield Redevelopment Grant and Loan Program will fund environmental cleanup as part of the County's Harbor Shores Development Project that encompasses approximately 570 acres and 70 properties located in the Benton Harbor area.

"We must continue to provide Michigan's cities with as many tools as possible to make their communities places where people are eager to live, learn, and earn," said Governor Granholm. "Our comprehensive plan to create jobs and transform Michigan's economy includes creating Cities of Promise that are inviting, thriving, and prosperous communities."

The Harbor Shores Development area contains a number of abandoned and contaminated properties that pose public health or environmental threats. The funding announced today will be used to clean up the contamination and prevent human exposure on 16 of the properties included in the project.

"This partnership effort demonstrates our commitment to the Benton Harbor community," said Director Chester. "Though our funding for these types of projects continues to diminish, this project will provide a crucial economic boost for Berrien County, and ensure the local environment is protected."

The development is expected to generate $400 to $500 million in private investment, create 2,500 full-time jobs, and enlist the services of 4,000 construction workers through Governor Granholm's Jobs Today Initiative, a program created to put thousands of Michigan residents to work through construction and development projects. Proposed project activities include the construction of 1,000 residential units, two hotels, a convention center, an indoor water park, an 18-hole signature golf course, and 83 acres of new park and public waterfront access points.

"The Harbor Shores project promises to boost our county's tax base and create thousands of good paying jobs for our residents," commented Dick Bartz, Chairman of the Berrien County Board of Commissioners and member of the Berrien County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.

The project builds on efforts already underway in Benton Harbor related to Michigan's Cities of Promise Initiative, an innovative five-year program that allows state agencies and local officials to collaborate in order to focus resources on needed projects in urban cities. Michigan Works!, a program of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, has provided job training and educational opportunities to prepare the local workforce to ensure they benefit directly from the jobs being created in their community. The developers are committed to utilizing the local workforce for this project.

The DEQ's Brownfield Redevelopment Grant and Loan Program provides financial incentives to local units of government for environmental response activities on brownfield properties where redevelopment is likely or proposed. Since its creation in 1988, the program has provided $134 million in grants and loans for 311 projects statewide.

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"

Revised March 8, 2007 by Pat Watson