EDGE, the local economic development nonprofit, updated the Core City Neighborhoods and Housing committee on Oct. 1 about a U.S. EPA brownfields revolving‑loan fund it administers and the group’s outreach to build a pipeline of projects.

Dr. Joanne Massey, EDGE president and CEO, said EPA awarded a $1,000,000 revolving loan fund in October 2023 that EDGE will loan to eligible remediation borrowers and re‑loan as repayments return to the fund. "A million dollars doesn't go a long way for this type of cleanup," Massey said, noting brownfield remediation costs vary widely by contaminant and site size.

Massey said EDGE spent a portion of the funds on set‑up, administration, marketing and consultant services, and reported about $948,000 remained available for remediation loans. She said the organization held a lunch‑and‑learn for community developers and CDCs and that marketing has increased inquiries and produced a pre‑application now in the pipeline. Massey said four earlier pre‑applications did not meet EPA eligibility requirements; examples cited included a pre‑application lacking a Phase I environmental assessment dated within six months and an applicant that sought a grant rather than a loan.

Committee members asked about a registry of brownfield sites and EDGE’s outreach in District 7, where several members said residents are concerned about a lack of redevelopment activity. Massey said state brownfield registries exist but are not exhaustive; she also said EDGE identified five potential sites in its original EPA application but that EDGE cannot control who applies for cleanup funds.

Massey said EDGE remains in compliance with EPA reporting and that the revolving structure is intended so repayments can be loaned again; the program term is five years to deploy funds, and EDGE plans to apply for additional federal resources if the local pipeline expands.

Committee members suggested using county communication channels to amplify the loan program and asked EDGE for lists of developers and contacts in specific districts; EDGE agreed to provide additional documentation and to keep the committee apprised as pre‑applications progress.