BROWNFIELDS Redevelopment Progress ahead!

The City of Keokuk, Iowa is on a path toward economic redevelopment of the former Elkem Carbon (aka Midwest Carbide) industrial site.  We hope you will be a part of this transformative journey to repurpose vital industrial property while fostering a more innovative, prosperous, and sustainable community. 

A brownfield is a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.

Meet OUR TEAM

City of Keokuk
Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce
Lee County Economic Development
Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
​Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Impact7G, Inc.
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Our brownfields redevelopment team understands local and regional economic development needs, environmental  impairments and remedies, and state and federal sources of funding necessary to overcome brownfield-related obtacles to successful redevelopment.

In addition to the team members shown on this page the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 Brownfields Program staff and the Iowa Department of Natural Resouces Brownfields Program have committed both financial assistance and considerable staff time to help the City of Keokuk navigate the process of revitalizing this century-old abandoned 80 acre industrial property known as the Former Elkem Carbon (aka Midwest Carbide) Site. 

20th Century industry

History

In 1915, the Elkem Carbon (aka Midwest Carbide) site included a secondary zinc smelter and lead alloying facility, which then became a carbide manufacturing facility in 1929. In subsequent decades carbon products were manufactured on site, until the facility closed in 2007 remaining vacant ever since.

U.S. EPA Brownfield Program

Funding

The City of Keokuk received a $300,000 Site-Specific Brownfield Assessment Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The City has initiated assessment and cleanup planning activities to prepare the 80-acre former Elkem Carbon (aka Midwest Carbide) site for industrial redevelopment opportunities.

site advantages

Opportunity

The former Elkem Carbon (aka Midwest Carbide) site is situated at a prime location for industrial develoment with highway and rail acces as well as City stormwater and sewer connections along Carbide Lane. Ample electric, internet, and natural gas infrastructure also exists nearby. 

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