Rockford Begins Brownfield Testing at Essex Wire, Keith Creek Sites

City using federal grants to check for contamination at long-vacant industrial properties

Apr. 19, 2026 at 9:43am

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A vast, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of gray and blue, with a thick industrial haze obscuring the details of any physical structures or remnants of past activity, conveying the overwhelming scale and mystery of the environmental issues facing Rockford's abandoned industrial sites.The looming presence of industrial contamination casts a heavy shroud over Rockford's abandoned factory sites, underscoring the challenges of revitalizing these long-neglected properties.Rockford Today

Rockford is testing soil and groundwater at two long-vacant industrial sites, including the former Essex Wire factory on North Main and a demolished machine shop by Keith Creek. Using federal EPA brownfield grants, the city is checking for contamination so these properties can be safely cleaned up and eventually redeveloped for new uses.

Why it matters

The testing at the Essex Wire and Keith Creek sites is an important first step in addressing potential environmental contamination that could be hindering the redevelopment of these long-vacant industrial properties. Identifying and remediating any hazardous materials will allow these sites to be safely repurposed, potentially bringing new economic activity and jobs to the community.

The details

Rockford is using federal EPA brownfield grants to conduct soil and groundwater testing at the former Essex Wire factory on North Main Street and a demolished machine shop near Keith Creek. The goal is to identify any contamination that would need to be cleaned up before these properties can be redeveloped for new uses. Essex Wire closed its Rockford operations in the 1990s, leaving the site vacant for decades. The machine shop by Keith Creek was also abandoned years ago after its operations ceased.

  • Rockford began the brownfield testing at the Essex Wire and Keith Creek sites in April 2026, using the federal EPA grants.
  • The city expects to have the initial test results and contamination assessments completed by the end of the summer of 2026.

The players

Rockford

The city of Rockford, Illinois, which is conducting the brownfield testing at the former Essex Wire factory and machine shop site near Keith Creek using federal EPA grants.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The federal agency that is providing the brownfield grants to the city of Rockford to fund the environmental testing and assessment of the former industrial sites.

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What’s next

Once the initial testing and contamination assessments are complete, Rockford will determine the next steps for cleaning up any hazardous materials found at the sites. This will likely involve securing additional funding and developing remediation plans so the properties can be safely redeveloped for new uses in the future.

The takeaway

The brownfield testing at the Essex Wire and Keith Creek sites represents an important effort by Rockford to address long-standing environmental issues that have prevented the redevelopment of these vacant industrial properties. By identifying and remediating any contamination, the city can pave the way for these sites to be repurposed in ways that bring new economic activity and jobs to the community.