The City of Mankato has funding available to help identify, assess and plan for the reuse of vacant properties that may be impacted by contamination, or even just the perception of contamination.

Have you noticed a vacant building, former industrial property or unused site that seems difficult to redevelop? We want to hear about it.

The City of Mankato was awarded a $500,000 EPA Community-wide Assessment Grant to help investigate brownfield properties and better understand what it may take to bring them back into productive use. Community members, property owners and businesses can help us identify potential sites for consideration.

What is a brownfield?

EPA defines a brownfield as, “property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.”

For example, a vacant property was last used as an auto repair shop and developers may be hesitant to redevelop due to the uncertainty of contamination and costly cleanup. In this example, it would be considered a brownfield site due to the potential possibility of contamination from the past use. Performing a brownfield site evaluation strengthens the appeal for development.

You don't need to know whether a property is contaminated to tell us about it. That's part of what this program can help determine.

Why revitalize brownfields?

Redeveloping an existing property can do more than transform a single site. It can be a stepping stone to creating new opportunities for surrounding neighborhoods and the community as a whole.

Brownfield redevelopment can help reduce pollution, protect the environment, support new investments, create jobs, increase property values and make better use of existing infrastructure.

The first step is simply finding out what's there.

How can brownfield funding help?

Brownfield funding can help answer some of the questions that stand in the way of redevelopment.

Grant funds may support environmental site assessments, environmental investigations, remedial action planning, asbestos and hazardous materials surveys, and planning for future reuse.

For eligible priority sites, approved assessment activities may be covered at no cost to the property owner. Participation is voluntary, and no grant match is required.

The goal is simple: better understand the property so we can better understand what's possible.

What can brownfield funding make possible?

Brownfield funding has already helped Mankato turn properties with uncertain environmental histories into new opportunities for business, housing and investment. Brownfield assessments can help answer questions about a property's environmental history and provide information needed to move redevelopment forward. Sometimes that means confirming that no cleanup is needed. Other times, it means identifying contamination and determining how to address it.

Creating LocAle Brewing

A plumbing and heating business and an automotive repair shop were previously housed on the LocAle Brewery site. A brownfield assessment grant helped evaluate potential environmental concerns before the property was purchased and redeveloped.

The assessment found that no cleanup was needed, giving the buyer confidence to move forward with the property purchase. The site was ultimately repurposed as a brewery.

The assessment helped turn uncertainty into an opportunity for reuse.

Building Studio 5 Apartments

The Studio 5 site had previously been used as a dry cleaner. Environmental assessments identified contamination that required cleanup before the property could be redeveloped.

The City's Brownfield Assessment Grant helped fund environmental assessments, hazardous materials surveys, response action planning and vapor mitigation system design.

Today, the site is a three-story mixed-use building with 19 apartments and two first-floor commercial suites.

The assessment helped identify the challenge and create a path toward cleanup and redevelopment.

Know a property that could use a second chance?

You don't have to be an environmental expert to help.

Maybe there's a property that has been vacant for years. Maybe it used to be an industrial or commercial site. Maybe you've heard concerns about what happened there in the past. Or, it's simply a property that seems like it should be put to better use.

If a property comes to mind, tell us about it.

We're interested in learning about properties that may have environmental concerns or face challenges to redevelopment.

Submitting a property does not mean it will receive funding or that contamination is present. Properties must be reviewed and determined eligible before grant-funded activities can occur.