The South Central Dakota Regional Council (SCDRC) has been awarded a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), providing new resources to help communities identify redevelopment opportunities and prepare underutilized properties for future investment.
The grant will fund environmental assessments for asbestos, lead-based paint, and petroleum contamination at four priority sites throughout the region. One of the highlighted projects includes the historic Tourist Park Campground in Valley City, recognized as the oldest campground in North Dakota. These assessments are an important first step in identifying redevelopment opportunities and removing barriers to future community and economic development.
Brownfields Assessment Grants help communities evaluate properties that may have environmental concerns, providing the information needed to pursue cleanup funding, attract investment, and return sites to productive use. By completing these assessments, communities are better positioned to revitalize key properties, encourage private investment, and support long-term economic growth.
Securing this significant federal investment allows South Central Dakota Regional Council to continue its work to strengthen communities and create opportunities for redevelopment across the region.