The Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission, on behalf of Sangamon County and in partnership with the City of Springfield and the Village of Grandview, has launched a countywide brownfields assessment program backed by a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The funding will be used to identify, assess and develop plans for the cleanup and future reuse of brownfield sites across Sangamon County. Brownfields are properties where redevelopment may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of environmental contamination.

The grant will fund environmental assessments, the creation of a countywide inventory of brownfield sites, community outreach efforts and planning for future redevelopment projects. Officials say the goal is to support new housing, commercial development, green space and other projects that improve public health and economic growth.

The program will initially focus on three priority areas: the Browning Road and Veterans Parkway Corridor in unincorporated Sangamon County, the Tenth Street and Rail Corridor in Springfield, and the North Grand Avenue East Corridor in Grandview. Additional properties could be added as the inventory grows and funding allows.

Community input will play a major role throughout the project, with residents and local organizations invited to participate in public engagement efforts and help shape future redevelopment plans.

The EPA grant runs from October 1st of this year through September 30th, 2030. For more information, contact the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission.

For questions or to seek more information, contact Lisa Peterson at Lisa.Peterson@sangamonil.gov or call 217-535-3110.

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