New DNR Initiative Focuses on Recent Plant Closings, Economic Recovery Webinar

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) is launching a new effort - the Wisconsin Plant Recovery Initiative (WPRI) - to help communities expedite the environmental cleanup and revitalization of businesses that have recently closed their doors. Many companies have shut down manufacturing plants and other industrial facilities in the midst of the recent economic downturn. Some of these facilities will have real or perceived environmental contamination, which can discourage new owners from purchasing and redeveloping the property.

Under the Plant Recovery Initiative, the WDNR's Remediation and Redevelopment (RR) Program wants to speed up the return of these facilities to productive use and encourage economic revitalization by offering a variety of cleanup and redevelopment tools. One of the most important tools is $1 million in WPRI Assessment Monies (WAM), available to local governments to help conduct environmental assessments at closed or closing facilities.

Sign Up for the Informational Webinar: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 @ 1:30 pm

A webinar to inform our community and private partners more about the Plant Recovery Initiative and assessment funds will be held Tuesday, March 23, at 1:30pm. It will be held via Microsoft Live Meeting, and requires the free Live Meeting client to see and hear the webinar. For more information on the webinar, contact Eric Ballas with the RR Program at (eric.ballas@wisconsin.gov).