DeKalb County awarded $500,000 EPA Brownfield assessment grant; consultants to be hired

DeKalb County Commissioners voted to proceed with consultant selection after the county was awarded a $500,000 Brownfield assessment grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Anton King of the DeKalb County Economic Development Partnership told the board the grant provides a four‑year window to conduct site assessments and potential phase‑two mitigation work. "DeKalb County was awarded a Brownfield grant from the EPA for $500,000," King said, and staff reported receiving three qualified responses to the county's consultant RFP.

County staff said they will enter negotiations with the recommended consultant (BCA Environmental Consultants was discussed during the meeting) and return a formal contract for commissioners' signatures. The Brownfield program will support site assessments, public workshops and community input to identify parcels that could be redeveloped after mitigation. Staff emphasized the grant's role in making properties "shovel ready" for developers by documenting contamination and outlining cleanup steps.

Commissioners asked about federal funding stability; staff reported contact with the EPA project representative and indicated the Brownfield funds were expected to move forward despite other federal aid uncertainty. The board approved the motion to move forward with consultant negotiations and to bring a contract back for signature.

Next steps: staff will negotiate terms with the selected consultant, schedule public input sessions as part of the Brownfield program and return a contract for formal approval.