BOSTON - E.P.A. has awarded in excess of $10.3 million in Brownfield grants to municipalities and organizations working to protect people's health by assessing and cleaning up contaminated parcels in New England communities.
The grants, funded by EPA's Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup grant program, provide communities with backing necessary to assess, clean up and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and leverage jobs while protecting public health and the environment.
In the 6 New England states, E.P.A. is awarding 38 separate grants to 31 different recipient organizations. The backing is part of $54.4 million in E.P.A. Brownfields investments awarded across the country.
"EPA's Brownfields plan is a proven asset helping local communities to get abandoned or derelict properties assessed, cleaned up and returned to productive use. This is just one way E.P.A. works to make a difference in communities all across New England," said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA's New England office. "Our brownfield investments typically leverage an average of approximately $17 for every dollar we spend. This is a wise investment in cleaning and revitalizing contaminated sites, creating jobs and new economic opportunities, and overall making our communities stronger and our environment cleaner."
In New England, since the beginning of the Brownfields program, E.P.A. has awarded 334 assessment grants totaling $97 million, 68 revolving loan fund grants and supplemental backing totaling $85.2 million and 241 cleanup grants totaling $64.5 million. These grant funds have paved the way for in excess of $2.5 billion in public and private cleanup and redevelopment investment and for nearly 14,458 jobs in assessment, cleanup, construction and redevelopment. These investments and jobs target local, under-served and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods - places where environmental cleanups and new jobs are most needed.
In New England, the following Brownfields grants are being awarded this year:
Connecticut - $1,000,000
• City of Bridgeport, $200,000 (cleanup grant for AGI Rubber site)
• Greater Bridgeport Regional Council, $400,000 (community-wide assessment grants)
• City of East Hartford, $200,000 (community-wide assessment grant)
• City of Meriden, $200,000 (community-wide assessment grant)
In addition to the preceding Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup grants E.P.A. is also providing "Targeted Brownfields Assessment" assistance to the City of Shelton for assessment work at Axton Cross Property in Shelton, valued at $80,000.
Maine - $2,350,000
• Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, $400,000 (community-wide assessment grants)
• Town of Berwick, $600,000 (cleanup grants for Prime Tanning, 20 Sullivan Street)
• Town of Lubec, $400,000 (cleanup grants for Columbian Factory site, 135 Main Street)
• Penobscot Indian Nation, $200,000 (community-wide assessment grant)
• Portland Harbor Commission, $350,000 (site specific assessment grant - Portland Harbor)
• City of Rockland, $400,000 (community-wide assessment grants)
Massachusetts - $2,750,000
• Attleboro Redevelopment Authority, $600,000 (cleanup grants for Former Reynolds & Markham, 101 Olive Street)
• City of Chicopee, $200,000 (cleanup grant for Former Racing Oil Service Station, 181 Center Street)
• Elizabeth Stone House (Roxbury), $200,000 (cleanup grant for Industrial & Auto Repair Facility, 3012 Washington Street)
• Montachusett Regional Planning Commission, $400,000 (community-wide assessment grants)
• City of New Bedford, $400,000 (community-wide assessment grants)
• City of Pittsfield, $350,000 (site specific assessment grant, Stetson Dry Cleaners)
• City of Taunton, $200,000 (community-wide assessment grant)
• Urban Edge Housing Corporation (Roxbury), $200,000 (cleanup grant for 1550 Columbus Avenue)
• Westmass Area Development Corporation (Ludlow), $200,000 (cleanup grant for Ludlow Mills Complex, 100 State Street)
In addition to the preceding Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup grants, E.P.A. also is providing "Targeted Brownfields Assessment" assistance to the City of Lawrence, valued at $200,000, to support their recently received Area-Wide Planning Grant (also from EPA).
New Hampshire - $1,200,000
• Central New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission, $400,000 (community-wide assessment grants)
• Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission, $400,000 (community-wide assessment grants)
• Strafford Regional Planning Commission, $400,000 (community-wide assessment grants)
Rhode Island - $1,000,000
• City of Central Falls, $200,000 (cleanup grant for Central Falls Landing, 1420 Broad Street)
• I-195 Redevelopment District Commission, $200,000 (cleanup grants for parcel 30 of the I-95 Redevelopment District)
• Pawtucket Central Falls Development Corporation, $600,000 (cleanup grants for 18 & 24 Branch Street and ten East Street)
In addition to the preceding Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup grants, E.P.A. also is providing "Targeted Brownfields Assessment" assistance to the East Bay Community Development Corporation for assessment work at a former gardening nursery in Barrington, valued at $130,000.
Vermont - $2,000,000
• Town of Brattleboro, $400,000 (community-wide assessment grants)
• Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission, $400,000 (community-wide assessment grants)
• Lamoille Co. Planning Commission, $400,000 (community-wide assessment grants)
• Northwest Regional Planning Commission, $400,000 (community-wide assessment grants)
• Springfield Regional Development Corporation, $200,000 (cleanup grant for Bryant Grinder, 257 Clinton Street)
• 2 Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission, $400,000 (community-wide assessment grants)
In addition to the preceding Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup grants, E.P.A. also is providing "Targeted Brownfields Assessment" assistance to the Bellows Falls Area Development Corporation for assessment work at the Robertson Paper Mill in Bellows Falls, valued at $130,000.
More information:
- E.P.A. Brownfields work in New England: http://www.epa.gov/region1/brownfields/index.html
- Brownfields grants by state: http://cfpub.epa.gov/bf_factsheets/
- National E.P.A. Brownfields info: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/
