Cook County's ongoing efforts to tackle environmental issues received a significant boost with a $950,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The grant will supplement Cook County’s Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund (RLF), a program geared towards transforming polluted and underutilized industrial sites into thriving community spaces. According to a statement from Cook County, this funding is a key component of achieving environmental justice and improving the quality of life in communities bearing the brunt of pollution.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle highlighted the strategic importance of the Brownfield RLF, recognizing its role in driving economic growth and facilitating housing and green space developments. "The Brownfield RLF drives economic growth, creates new housing, opens green spaces, and more – all for communities that have shouldered the burden of pollution for years," Preckwinkle said, as stated by the Cook County Government. Such initiatives are essential, she notes, for the empowerment of historically underserved communities. The supplemental funding positions Cook County as one of 31 high-performing Brownfield RLF Grant Programs selected by the EPA.
Since its inception in 2014, the Cook County brownfield program has made significant strides, completing assessments and remediation on over 127 sites spanning roughly 1,000 acres. The DES aims to further this mission through the RLF, prioritizing projects in under-resourced communities. Property owners in suburban Cook County—who did not cause contamination—are encouraged to apply for these remediation loans, with funds available through 2029 or until they are fully expended.
