Milwaukee area getting $3 million in stimulus funds to clean up contaminated sites

The Milwaukee area is getting more than $3 million in funds from the federal stimulus package to help clean up contaminated sites, Gov. Jim Doyle announced Tuesday.

The funding is expected to create 33 local jobs, according to the governor's office. That would be about $90,000 per job.

The former Tower Automotive and Esser Paint sites are getting the lion's share of the money.

The city of Milwaukee will receive $1.1 million to clean up petroleum contamination at the former Tower Automotive property at Capitol Drive and Hopkins Street in the central city. The site has 50 to 70 underground storage tanks. City officials plan to purchase the property and redevelop it into a 58-acre business park.

The city of Milwaukee will also receive $864,845 to clean up and redevelop the former Esser Paint property at West Galena Street and North 32nd Avenue. Both the Tower and Esser Paint sites are located in the city's 30th Street Industrial Corridor.

"These funds provided by the Recovery and Reinvestment Act will allow clean up to proceed on sites contaminated by hazardous substances, creating local jobs and protecting public health," Doyle said. "Not only will clean up efforts create local jobs, but revitalizing the contaminated sites will provide potential new locations for businesses to operate."