$1M EPA grant goes to Hamtramck for city's redevelopment

The City of Hamtramck and the Wayne County Port Authority have been awarded $1 million from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The money will be used to set up a revolving loan that can be accessed to redevelop contaminated properties throughout Hamtramck. "In a small community where everything is already built out, almost every project we do is redevelopment and has some complication," says Hamtramck's community and economic development director Jason Friedmann. "This funding can be accessed to push these projects over the edge and make them happen."

Most of the funds will be treated as loan funds, but the possibility exists that small grants might be awarded to projects as a form of gap financing.

Hamtramck has received $400,000 in assessment grants from EPA in the last two years, which Friedmann thinks helped their proposal get the nod. This work also cemented a bond with AKT Peerless and the Port Authority, both of which Friedmann credits with bringing the money to Hamtramck. He estimates the loan fund will be up and running in 60 days.

Source: Jason Friedmann, city of Hamtramck
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh