About Brownfields

Michigan has a rich industrial past, from the lumber area through the automotive era. While these were fruitful industries economically, many business sites are considered environmental brownfield sites today.  Brownfields are defined as “real property for which the expansion, redevelopment or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant.”

Our goal is to reuse brownfield sites thus increasing the site’s taxable value, utilizing public infrastructure that may already be in place, and preserving green space. Two primary tools aid in redeveloping brownfields:

Before and After - A Brownfield Redevelopment Project

            The One Water Brownfield Redevelopment Project, Boyne City, sits on a former railroad
            roundhouse, shingle mill and commercial boat dock. Click here for project details.

Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (BRA)

Straits Area Federal Credit Union in Cheboygan is located on a former brownfield site

Michigan law permits municipalities to create BRAs, an institutional structure to promote local planning and to implement brownfield redevelopment. Each BRA develops a plan that identifies eligible properties within its jurisdiction. Redevelopers of brownfield sites may receive reimbursement for brownfield remediation that is needed before a project can begin construction.

Brownfield Tax Increment Financing (TIF)

Tax increment financing is the incentive a BRA can offer a brownfield site developer. The developer remediates the contamination so it becomes a viable site, and the new taxes created on the new development are captured and used to reimburse the developer for remediation costs. This is involves a complicated pre-approval process by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and the Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality, as well as the BRA and the respective county. 

To learn more about Brownfield Tax Incentives, click here.

BRA's in the NLEA Region

NLEA’s Team of Economic Development Specialists can assist communities in finding the most effective approach to meet their needs. To learn more about our services and full range of community development solutions, please contact us at 231-582-6482, or by email.

NLEA Board Video - March 2012