Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
Opposing proposed reducations in federal funding for U.S. EPA Brownfield Grants.
Body
WHEREAS, funding by U.S. EPA of Brownfield Grants is instrumental for economic development in the State of Wisconsin; and,
WHEREAS, the President’s proposed budget for U.S. EPA includes a 44% reduction in Brownfield Grants from EPA ($25 million in 2016 reduced to $14 million in 2018) and a 31% reduction in Brownfield State Grants from EPA ($48 million in 2016 reduced to $33 million in 2018); and,
WHEREAS, since 1998, Brownfield Grants awarded by the State of Wisconsin totaled $121.4 million to assist brownfield investigation, cleanup and redevelopment, a total of $162 million when local and Federal brownfield specific incentives are included; and,
WHEREAS, these grant programs funded by U.S. EPA are essential to successful brownfield redevelopment in the City of Madison and in the State of Wisconsin; and,
WHEREAS, in 2015, the University of Wisconsin Whitewater prepared a report entitled The Economic and Fiscal Impact of Wisconsin’s Brownfields Investments, which included the following economic findings:
• State investments, coupled with local government investments and federal brownfield assistance, have generated $3.3 billion in direct total investments/construction for $6 billion in direct and indirect investment in brownfield projects.
• Economic activity associated with the businesses now occupying completed projects amount to $4.4 billion direct (or $7.6 billion direct and indirect) in state-wide economic output.
• A total of 29,883 direct new and retained permanent jobs (or 54,483 direct and indirect jobs) were generated in assisted complete or underway brownfield projects. Projects representing an additional 9,107 jobs are planned; thus the total pipeline is 38,990 direct permanent jobs.
A complete copy of the Economic Report can be located at the following link: <http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Brownfields/documents/bsg/uwwreport.pdf.>
WHEREAS, the City of Madison has benefited from these grants for projects including the Garver Feed Mill (115 S. Fair Oaks Avenue), the Constellation (10 N. Livingston Street), the Galaxie (800 E. Washington Avenue), the Cosmos and Spark (801-819 E. Washington Avenue), the restaurant complex at the former Savidusky Furrier and Cleaners (827 E. Washington Avenue), the Stone House Development mixed-use project at the former Madison Dairy Plant (1000 E. Washington Avenue), the T. Wall Enterprises residential building at the former Reynolds Rigging & Crane Services lot (710 E. Mifflin Street), the McGrath mixed-use development at 722 Williamson Street, the Red Caboose Day Care development at 2340 Winnebago Street, the Ruedebusch development of the former Royster Clark fertilizer plant (902 Dempsey Road),
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Madison opposes any reduction in U.S. EPA funding of these grants, and believes strongly that the levels of grant assistance should be kept at the 2016 level in order to support the future economic development of brownfields projects in the City of Madison and State of Wisconsin; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Clerk is hereby directed to send a copy of this resolution to each member of the Wisconsin Congressional delegation.