State officials urge NKY to pursue brownfield cleanups

State officials are encouraging the Northern Kentucky region to take advantage of millions of dollars available for brownfield cleanup, which could lead to economic redevelopment. 

A brownfield is a property, the expansion, redevelopment or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. 

Some examples of these buildings include abandoned or blighted buildings, former factories, old gas stations, former dry cleaners, old school and hospital sites, and former rail yards. 

“Under the bipartisan infrastructure law, there’s $5 million available specifically for brownfield assessment and cleanup,” Environmental Education Specialist Kiersten O’Leary said. “They are targeting rural and urban areas, underserved communities and new applicants that have never received brownfield funding in the past.”

Redeveloped brownfield sites can yield new retail or commercial property, entertainment and restaurant venues, park or recreation areas, residential housing, and community centers, O’Leary said. 

“What all of these (brownfield sites) have in common is that they’re usually in very prominent portions of town and are an eyesore to the community,” O’Leary said. “There are a lot of benefits to cleaning up brownfield sites and pursuing redevelopment.”

Carroll County, which is within the Northern Kentucky Area Development District’s service area, received a $500,000 brownfield site assessment grant.

“Kentucky is playing at the national level, getting some of these dollars in rural, historically underserved communities,” O’Leary said. “There’s no reason that can’t be the case in this (Northern Kentucky) region as well.” 

Local governments, property owners, nonprofits, community leaders, potential buyers, environmental regulators and environmental consultants are among the stakeholders and partners in brownfield redevelopment. 

“There’s accessibility for brownfield grants, so we’d like to help if there are any sites in mind,” Northern Kentucky Area Development District Government Services Manager Alaina Hagenseker said. “It can open up for cleanup grants later. There is a lot more availability. A lot of people say ‘we don’t have brownfields in our county,’ but you do.”