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Wisconsin Department of Commerce Brownfields Initiative - Additional Department Assistance

Blight Elimination and Brownfields Redevelopment (BEBR) Grants

Description: The BEBR program, part of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, is designed to assist communities with assessing or remediating the environmental contamination of an abandoned, idle or underused industrial or commercial facility or site in a blighted area, or that qualifies as blighted. Critical to obtaining a grant is a redevelopment plan that describes how the property will be reused for commercial or industrial development that results in jobs and private investment in the community.

Eligibility: Towns, villages, or cities that are not entitlement communities and any county other than Milwaukee, Waukesha, and parts of Dane are eligible.

How funds can be used: Funds can be used for Phase I and Phase II environmental assessments, environmental investigations, and remediation of sites which are blighted, with the following conditions:

  • The applicant has a redevelopment plan for the property.
  • The project will result in the redevelopment of the brownfield site for commercial or industrial use.
  • Environmental remediation costs from responsible parties are pursued.
  • Financial need is demonstrated.
  • The community provides at least 25% of the project funding.

Money available: The maximum award is $100,000 for environmental assessments, and $500,00 for environmental remediation projects.

Application and Award Process:

  • A pre-application meeting is held with Department staff to discuss the potential application.
  • Completed applications receive staff review and comment.
  • Funding decisions are made based upon the submitted application and contingent upon availability of funds.
  • Terms and conditions for the use of grant funds are agreed upon prior to the release of funds.
  • The applicant is responsible for administering the award.

More Information: For more information, visit the CDBG-BEBR page on our web site.

Contacts: Your first point of contact should be your Area Development Manager.


Environmental Remediation Tax Credits

Community Development Zone Program

Description: The CDZ Program is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce and provides tax benefits to encourage private investment in targeted areas and to improve both the quality and quantity of employment opportunities. The CDZ Program can help those seeking to expand a business, start a new one, or relocate a current business to Wisconsin. There are two tax credits available and one can be used in relation to environmental cleanups.

Eligibility: Individuals and businesses who are willing to locate within the 20 Development Zones and certain projects in Connnunity Development Zones.

How can funds be used: The Environmental Remediation Credit can be claimed for expenses incurred for environmental cleanups. Jobs credits can be claimed for the creation of new employment. Twenty-five percent (25 %) of all credits allocated to a business must be for creating full-time jobs.

Money available:

  • A jobs credit of up to $8,000 for new full-time jobs being created and filled by members of target group.
  • A jobs credit of up to $6,000 for new full-time jobs being created and filled by Wisconsin residents who are not members of target groups.
  • The Environmental Remediation Credit is 50% of all remediation costs affected by environmental pollution and investigation of a brownfield.

Contacts: See the Development Zone pages for more information.

Enterprise Development Zone Program

Description: The Enterprise Development Zone Program provides the same tax incentives as the Community Development Zone Program to new or expanding businesses whose projects will affect distressed areas. Enterprise Zones can exist for up to seven years. Commerce can vary zone benefits to encourage projects in areas of high distress. The Department can designate up to 50 zones.

Eligibility: Based on the economic impact of a proposed business project, the Department of Commerce can designate an Enterprise Development Zone, which is "site specific" and applies to only one business.

How can funds be used: The tax incentive benefits can be used for the same activities as the Community Development Zone Program. The Environmental Remediation Credit can be claimed for environmental cleanup efforts.

Money available: The maximum amount of credits per zone is $3.0 million. Credits are available in the following amounts:

  • A jobs credit of up to $8,000 for new full-time jobs being created and filled by members of target group.
  • A jobs credit of up to $6,000 for new full-time jobs being created and filled by Wisconsin residents who are not members of target groups.
  • The Environmental Remediation Credit is 50%.

Contacts: See the Development Zone pages for more information.

Wisconsin Department of Commerce
Bureau of Enterprise Development
201 W. Washington Avenue
P.O. Box 7970
Madison, WI 53707
(608) 267-2045


Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund

Description: The PECFA program provides reimbursement funds for portions of cleanup costs associated with petroleum product storage systems (i.e. underground storage tanks, aboveground storage tanks and home heating oil systems). Petroleum products are defined as gasoline, gasoline-alcohol fuel blends, kerosene, fuel oil, burner oil, diesel fuel oil or used motor oil. The PECFA program is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce (Commerce), Environmental and Regulatory Services (ERS) Division.

Eligibility: Municipalities and private parties who own:

  • commercial underground and aboveground tanks of 110 gallons or more;
  • farm and residential vehicle fuel tanks with tank capacity greater than 1,100 gallons;
  • home heating oil systems;
  • farm vehicle tanks with less than 1,100 gallon capacity, if the owner/operator: (1) owns a parcel of 35 or more acres of land devoted to agriculture; (2) has an average agriculture income not less than $6,000; and (3) receives a letter from the DNR requiring remedial action.
  • public school district and technical college district heating oil tanks; and
  • tanks located on trust land of an American Indian tribe.

In addition, Commerce has several requirements that must be met by tank owners, such as tank registration. Reimbursement cannot be provided for: costs incurred before August 1, 1987; tank removal costs after November 1, 1991; or tank system upgrades.

How funds can be used: In general, eligible costs include the costs of investigating and cleaning up discharges from storage tanks; monitoring costs; compensation of third parties for damages caused by underground tank discharges; and other costs determined to be necessary. The costs of conducting a Phase I and II environmental assessment for a property transfer and to identify the responsible party (or parties) are not eligible for PECFA reimbursement.

Money available: The amount of money that can be reimbursed depends on several criteria, such as whether the tank is owned by a marketer or non-marketer of petroleum products, the tank is under or above ground, and when the costs have been incurred for cleanup. Deductibles range from 5% to 25% of eligible costs or from $2,500 to $10,000. There are also maximum reimbursement amounts per occurrence (area of contamination).

Contacts:

Wisconsin Department of Commerce
Bureau of PECFA
P.O. Box 7838, Madison, WI 53707-7838
(608) 267-3753
PECFA home page