The United States Environmental Protection Agency today awarded a total of 87 brownfields grants totaling $18.6 million to 56 communities and organizations in EPA Region 5, the Great Lakes states.

Michigan received the most awards of any state in the region, both in raw number of awards and their dollar amounts -- 19 grants for $8 million.

The Michigan grants, spread from the farthest southeast corner of the state to the northernmost Upper Peninsula spots, were as follows:

Allegan ($200,000), Bay City ($200,000), Calhoun County ($200,000) Delta County (2; $400,000), Detroit Wayne County Port Authority (2; $400,000), Downriver Community Conference ($2 million), Genesee County Land Bank Authority (2; $400,000), Grand Rapids (2; $400,000), Hamtramck (2; $400,000), City of Jackson Brownfield Redevelopment Authority ($1 million), Jackson County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (2; $400,000), Kentwood ($200,000), Keweenaw County ($200,000), Leelanau County ($200,000), Macomb County (2; $400,000), Otsego County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority ($200,000), Southfield Brownfield Redevelopment Authority ($200,000), Three Rivers ($200,000), Wyoming ($200,000).

Illinois received six grants totaling $2 million, Indiana seven totaling $3.6 million, Minnesota three grants totaling $1 million, Ohio 14 grants for $6.3 million and Wisconsin seven grants for $2.4 million.

Brownfields are properties where expansion, redevelopment or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of pollution or hazardous substances. The grants were awarded competitively in three categories: hazardous substances assessment and cleanup, petroleum assessment and cleanup, and revolving loan funds.

Nationally, 314 grants totaling more than $74 million were awarded to 209 different applicants. More information including a fact sheet for all the grantees is at www.epa.gov/brownfields.

The 2008 National Brownfields Conference will be held at Detroit's Cobo Center May 5 to 7. The event is expected to draw more than 6,000 environmental and economic development officials, finance and insurance providers, risk managers, planners, attorneys, engineers and students. The conference is managed by the International City/County Management Association, in partnership with EPA.

More at www.brownfields2008.org.