By Anchorage (AK) Mayor Mark Begich
November 21, 2005

Brownfields in Anchorage (AK) offer both a challenge and opportunity. We’ve built out most of our easy-to-develop land, and are increasingly looking toward renovation, rebuilding and in-fill for new growth. Because of the environmental issues inherent with Brownfields, these areas have been under-utilized, leading to blight and dis-investment.

With Brownfield incentives such as HUD’s Brownfields Economic Development Initiative (BEDI), we are able to address the environmental barriers and partner with the private sector to encourage redevelopment and reinvestment in the heart of our City. In the neighborhood of Mountain View, our lowest income neighborhood, we’re closing on a deal this month where an $800,000 BEDI grant will facilitate more than $5,000,000 private sector investment to renovate and clean up a vacant, deteriorating, contaminated warehouse, creating 150 new jobs.

This type of private sector reinvestment and blight removal has an immediate positive impact on the neighborhood, local businesses, as well as the employees that will be hired, and a long-term benefit to the environment and economy. We’re bringing previously difficult to develop, contaminated areas back into the market in a time when the market is hungry for new land. It’s a perfect match.