Brownfields
At Decide DeKalb, we’re not just developing properties – we’re revitalizing communities and creating new opportunities. Our Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund (BRLF) is a powerful tool in our mission to transform DeKalb County’s landscape and economy.
Brownfield Redevelopment: Turning Challenges into Opportunities
Brownfields are properties that are abandoned, underused, or idled, and hindered from redevelopment due to the potential or actual presence of environmental contamination. Brownfields are often properties that were previously used for a variety of purposes, such as factories, dry cleaners, or gas stations. These properties can pose a threat to the health of nearby neighborhoods and residents.
Some common hazards found at brownfield sites include:
- Lead: Can damage the brain, nerves, organs, and bones, and can cause cancer
- Petroleum: Can cause headaches, nervous system damage, liver and kidney damage, and cancer
- Asbestos: Can cause lung scarring, lung cancer, and mesothelioma
- Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): Can cause liver disorders and cancer
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Can cause eye irritation, nausea, liver and kidney damage, and cancer
- Underground Storage Tanks (UST): USTs are large containers that hold liquids or gases underground.
But brownfields are more than just abandoned or underutilized properties; they represent untapped potential. Brownfields may come with contamination challenges, but with vision and effort, they can be transformed into thriving community assets.
Why Brownfield Redevelopment Matters
Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund (BRLF)
In 2022, Decide DeKalb secured a $2.5 million Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund (BRLF) award from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). With these federal funds, Decide DeKalb can provide funding to support the remediation and clean up of contaminated properties throughout the county, improving human health, environmental quality, and economic vitality.
What Our Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund Offers:
- Financial Support: Decide DeKalb provides loans and/or grants to support the remediation and cleanup of brownfields properties.
- Expert Guidance: A partnership with Corporate Environmental Risk Management (CERM), our Qualified Environmental Professional, guides property owners and contractors through the eligibility, application, and remediation processes.
- Comprehensive Approach: From community engagement to providing insight on future redevelopment opportunities, Decide DeKalb covers all aspects of brownfield redevelopment.
The Benefits Of Partnering With Decide DeKalb
- Expertise: Our Redevelopment Team, backed by EPA and environmental professionals, brings unrivaled knowledge and experience to every project
- Community Focus: We understand the specific needs and potential of DeKalb County, ensuring contaminated properties are remediated to become available for future redevelopment
- Financial Advantage: Our revolving loan fund offers attractive terms for developers and investors as either loans or grants
- Long-term Vision: We’re committed to sustainable development that benefits DeKalb County for years to come
- Brownfields GIS Tool: Created in partnership with DeKalb County, this tool provides developers, investors and property owners with vital information about properties available for redevelopment or potential contamination offering a one-stop resource for making informed decisions
Let’s Transform DeKalb
Whether you’re a developer with a vision or a property owner looking to revitalize your asset, we want to collaborate with you. Let’s turn brownfields into opportunities that drive economic growth.
For information on Decide DeKalb’s Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund and how it can support similar projects, contact us. Or, if you have a project already in mind and would like to start the process, please complete the preliminary questionnaire today!
Together, we’re not just cleaning up properties – we’re building a brighter future for DeKalb County.
DeKalb Success Stories & Case Studies
The Power of Partnership
Through Decide DeKalb’s Revolving Loan Fund Program, abandoned and potentially contaminated properties are being transformed into valuable community assets that spur economic growth and enhance quality of life. By leveraging federal grants, local resources, and strategic partnerships, Decide DeKalb has successfully supported the revitalization of numerous sites that once posed environmental and health concerns. The following success stories demonstrate how this innovative program is breathing new life into previously underutilized properties while creating sustainable development opportunities
throughout the county.
As we celebrate these achievements, we look forward to more transformations, continuing to build a greener, healthier, and more vibrant DeKalb County for all residents.
