"These grants are so important for both environmental and economic reasons," says Levin, co-chair of the Senate Smart Growth Task Force. "The cleanup and development of brownfield sites revitalize our towns and cities by providing the opportunity to create jobs, build housing and provide recreational space."

The Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority is to receive $400,000 to conduct site inventory, perform Phase I and II and baseline environmental assessments, prepare redevelopment plans, and conduct outreach in southwest Detroit and the West Detroit Riverfront. A "Phase I" is where historical occurrence of contamination is evaluated and a "Phase II" is where the extent of contamination is determined.

The Wayne County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority will receive $1 million for a revolving loan fund to support cleanup activities at sites contaminated with hazardous substances in the county's cities and towns, including Detroit, Ecorse, Highland Park, Hamtramck, Inkster, Melvindale, and River Rouge.