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Oakland Brownfield Initiative
Oakland County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (OCBRA):
On November 29, 2001 the Oakland County Board of Commissioners approved the creation of the Oakland County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (OCBRA), and in doing so established the initial OCBRA Board and the Bylaws in which all aspects of the OCBRA will follow. The OCBRA meets on a regular basis to continue its work on a number of Brownfield redevelopments under consideration. Under state law, a Brownfield Redevelopment Authority is how businesses access the following financing incentives.
Single-Business Tax (SBT) credit: To acquire a SBT credit one must demonstrate a need for incentive to reuse the site due to market conditions or other business factors and also the developer must articulate financial need for the credit. The SBT's are subdivided into Large and Small credits. A large SBT Credit must be approved by the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) Board and are in excess of $1 million dollars. 15 of these large credits are granted per year, 3 of which can be in a non-core community (*for a list of core-communities please see below). A small SBT Credit must be approved by the MEGA Chair and cannot exceed $1 million dollars. Up to 30 million dollars in these credits are granted each year. Tax increment financing (TIF) must be pursued for all eligible activities. Please see the following for more details on TIF.
Tax Increment Financing (TIF): Tax Increment Financing (TIF) reimburses developers for eligible remediation activities as identified in the Brownfield and 381 work plans. TIF captures tax rolls from local and state governmental bodies after a 381 work plan has been approved. Eligible activities are subdivided into those geared toward core and non-core communities. In core communities this financing is available for Baseline Environmental Assessment (BEA), Due Care, and additional response activities. Other eligible activities for core communities include public infrastructure, demolition, site preparation and lead and asbestos abatement. In non-core communities the eligible activities are limited to BEA's, Due Care, and additional response activities. Once eligible activities have been identified an Act 381 Work Plan must be prepared and submitted for approval by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
Assessment Grants: In 2005 Oakland County was awarded a $400,000 Assessment Grant to be used to conduct Environmental Assessment activities for Brownfield properties located through out Oakland County. $200,000 will be used to conduct work on Hazardous Substances sites, and the other $200,000 will be used to conduct work on Petroleum sites. Oakland County awards these monies to developers to pay for portions of the environmental investigations needed for a specific site. These grant dollars help the developer supplement the costs of needed investigation activities.
Oakland County Brownfield Remediation Loan Fund: Oakland County was awarded a supplemental grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in the amount of $394,350 in 2004. An application was also been made to the USEPA to authorize transition of $155,650 to this grant from our original USEPA grant funding, for a grant total of $550,000. $440,000 of these monies are to be used for loans directed at site clean up. Terms and conditions of these loans are negotiable.
Additional Information:
Development Authority Maps show boundaries of the five types of authorities in the State of Michigan that can utilize tax increment financing (TIF) to promote development and redevelopment.
Contact County Brownfield Representatives
* Core-communities
Ferndale
Hazel Park
Oak Park
Pontiac
Royal Oak Township
Southfield
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