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Brownfields 2004
Grant Fact Sheet
Bridgeport, CT
EPA Brownfields Program
EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, commu-
nities, and other stakeholders in economic development
to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up,
and sustainably reuse brownfields. Abrownfield site is
real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse
of which may be complicated by the presence or
potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant,
or contaminant. On January 11, 2002, the President
signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and
Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under the Brownfields
Law, EPA provides financial assistance to eligible
applicants through four competitive grant programs:
assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup
grants, and job training grants. Additionally, funding
support is provided to state and tribal response pro-
grams through a separate mechanism.
Community Description
The City of Bridgeport was selected to receive two
brownfields cleanup grants. The City of Bridgeport
(population 139,529), a federally designated Enterprise
Community, is the largest, most densely populated city
in Connecticut. More than 62 percent of city residents
are minorities, and the city-wide poverty rate is almost
25 percent. Bridgeport's unemployment rate, nine
percent, is almost twice that of neighboring communi-
ties. The target neighborhood of East End (population
4,089), a predominantly minority community, has been
plagued with a high vacancy rate and a substantial
number of blighted industrial and residential structures
that affect the water quality and limit neighborhood
enjoyment of Johnson's Creek. Cleanup and revitaliza-
Cleanup Grants
$400,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Bridgeport for two
brownfields cleanup grants. Grant funds will be
used to clean up the former Chrome Engineering
site, an electroplating and metal grinding facility,
and the Mt. Trashmore site, a former trucking
terminal and demolition debris storage area.
Cleanup work entails site preparation and excava-
tion and disposal of pre-existing structures and
contaminated soils. The sites will be redeveloped
as part of a broader plan involving infill housing on
more than 50 lots in the East End neighborhood of
Bridgeport.
Contacts
For further information, including specific grant
contacts, additional grant information, brownfields
news and events, and publications and links, visit
the EPA Brownfields web site at: www.epa.gov/
brownfields
EPA Region 1 Brownfields Team
617-918-1221
http://www.epa.gov/region01/brownfields/
Grant Recipient: Bridgeport, CT
203-576-8220
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, the activities
described in this fact sheet are subject to change.
tion of the Chrome Engineering site will bring a much
needed park to a community with no open greenspace.
Cleanup of the Mt. Trashmore site represents tangible
progress toward the development of approximately 12
new, affordable, single family homes in the neighbor-
hood.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-04-028
June 2004
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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