The provincial government has a big problem.

There are about 6,000 pieces of land in B.C. that are contaminated by pollution.

They could be an old gas station site, an abandoned factory or other land that was used for an industrial purpose. The government calls them brownfield sites.

In a small way, the government is trying to deal with the problem of browfield sites.

It has announced $1.5 million in funding to help revitalize 13 of the sites.

In Kelowna, the government is teaming up with the Salvation Army to deal with an old gas station site at Sutherland Avenue and Burtch Road. Its a parking lot for the Salvation Army church.

The 2013 Brownfield Renewal Funding Program will pay up to $24,825 to help turn the service station into a low rental housing complex. It will be fore families in recovery programs. Along with the residential component, the complex will include classrooms and a small thrift store.

"Brownfield redevelopment creates economic benefits for local governments, land developers and the community,” according to Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Kelowna-Mission MLA Steve Thomson.

“By making unused land healthy and viable again, the Province is helping create sources of tax revenue while supporting community revitalization strategies across B.C."

The Brownfield Renewal Program was created in 2008. Since then, B.C. taxpayers have funded 101 projects in over 50 communities to the tune of $6 million.

To contact the reporter forhalexander@infotelnews.ca this story email or call (250) 491-0331.