Henry County commissioners approve application to pursue EPA brownfield assessment grant

Henry County Commissioners on Sept. 24 authorized county staff to apply for an EPA brownfield assessment grant that, if awarded, would fund environmental assessments for commercial properties across the county. The motion passed unanimously, 3-0.

The county’s economic development office presented the proposal, saying the grant would cover Phase I assessments — historical reviews of property records — and could fund Phase II site investigations if Phase I findings warrant them. "We may not get selected," the presenter said, but noted the county had secured similar grants in the past and used them to leverage private investment.

The presenter, citing past work, said the county has brought in nearly a million dollars through previous brownfield grants and that managing an application through the county rather than a single town would make properties across Henry County — including Middletown and Newcastle — eligible. He recommended the county apply rather than the regional planning commission, and commissioners moved and seconded that staff pursue the application and authorized the commission president to sign documents related to the application.

Commissioners asked whether the grant required a local match; staff said the county would return if a match were required. The presenter estimated, based on prior grants, the award could potentially provide "between 3 and $500,000" to fund assessments for willing commercial property owners, and added that the federal Office would issue application guidelines before a final submission deadline.

The decision directs staff to prepare an application when EPA guidelines are released, with the county auditor’s office to serve as fiscal agent if the grant is submitted. No final grant award was made at the meeting.

Next steps: staff will prepare the application when EPA releases guidelines and report back to the commissioners if a local match or other conditions are required.