Kalispell approved for $1 million in cleanup money

Kalispell recently was awarded $1 million in federal funds to clean up affected downtown properties.

The Brownfields grant can be used for loans to city property owners for cleanup of sites contaminated with hazardous substances and petroleum.

“This adds a critical and complementary component to the city’s existing Brownfields program,” said Katharine Thompson, Kalispell’s community development manager.

The city earlier received a $400,000 grant that was used for property assessments and a $175,000 grant that was used for planning of cleanup and redevelopment of properties in the city’s downtown core.

Money for all three grants come through the Environmental Protection Agency.

The city anticipates funding up to five projects to advance a revitalization plan that includes redevelopment along abandoned railroad tracks, a park and trail system, affordable housing, and new businesses, according to a press release from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The city’s revitalization area includes at least 17 contaminated sites, including abandoned railroad tracks and the former Manion Equipment site that is vacant because of petroleum contamination.

A local steering committee recently decided to work toward removing the city’s downtown railroad tracks to spur economic development.

The $1 million Brownfields grant could help with that if the properties are contaminated.

Grant money will be used to make loans to individual property owners from August 2011 through August 2016, Thompson said in a press release.

Some $2.1 million in the Westside Tax Increment Financing District also could come into play in revitalization of the city’s downtown.

The Kalispell City Council will consider approval of the $1 million grant on Monday, June 20.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes also received Brownfield funding, the EPA announced.

The tribes will get $200,000 to clean up 2,500 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated soil at the 9-acre Joseph Allotment along U.S. 93 in Elmo. The site was contaminated when petroleum was released from the former Elmo Cash Store.

Cleanup of the site will reduce threats to exposure and allow the tribes to construct much-needed housing and will support jobs and economic development in the community.