Brownfields 2005 Grant Fact Sheet Everett, MA 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, President George W. Bush 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. Addi- tionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism. Community Description The City of Everett was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Historically, heavy industry and manufacturing, which have occupied a third of the city's land area, have been the economic engines of Everett (population 38,000). Manufacturing still accounts for about 31 percent of the jobs in Everett. However, relocation and closing of many industries during the latter half of the 20th Century have reduced employment, and left numerous vacant, underused, and contaminated parcels of land. Everett ranks among the top ten Massachusetts cities for the highest percentage of jobs lost during the decade ending in 2000. The poverty rate in this small, 3.6- square-mile city is 11.8 percent, and the 7.1 percent Assessment Grant (20051 $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the City of Everett for a brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be used to prepare a brownfields environmental assessment prioritization plan, conduct Phase I and II site assessments on properties identified by the prioritization plan in West Everett, analyze cleanup alternatives for sites with the potential for near-term redevelopment, and conduct community outreach activities. 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: City of Everett, MA 617-394-2246 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. unemployment rate is above the state average. Everett also has a lower per capita income than the state average. Having begun a rebirth of West Everett, including brownfields redevelopment along the Maiden River, Everett needs to characterize and stimulate redevelopment of many more brownfields in West Everett. This grant will allow Everett to prioritize its brownfields assessment efforts and advance new economic development plans that will lead to job growth and new open space and parkland. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA560-F-05-013 May 2005 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |