I
'O
UJ
O
Brownfields 2004
Grant Fact Sheet
Rhode Island Economic
Development
Corporation
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 Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation
was selected to receive a brownfields assessment
grant and a revolving loan fund grant. The state's
population is 1,048,319. Rhode Island's role in the
industrial revolution has left the state with many
vacant, abandoned, and contaminated textile mills and
factories. The state has an estimated 300 brownfields,
most of which are in areas with high poverty rates and
urban blight. Rhode Island's manufacturing base has
steadily eroded, resulting in the loss of 25,000 private
sector jobs between 1992 and 2002. The state-wide
unemployment rate is the second highest unemploy-
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the Rhode Island Economic
Development Corporation to receive a brownfields
asssessment grant. Hazardous substances grant
funds and petroleum assessment grant funds will
both be used to perform Phase I, II, and III
assessments at sites throughout the state's 39
municipalities. Grant funds also will be used for
community outreach activities.
Revolving Loan Fund /NGW\
Grant *
$600,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the Rhode Island Economic
Development Corporation to receive a brownfields
revolving loan fund grant. Funds will be used to
capitalize a revolving loan fund from which the
Rhode Island Economic Development Corpora-
tion, in partnership with the City of East Provi-
dence, will provide loans and subgrants to sites
contaminated with petroleum in the state's 39
municipalities.
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: Rhode Island Economic
Development Corporation
401-222-2601
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, the activities
described in this fact sheet are subject to change.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA560-F-04-185
June 2004
www.epa.gov/brownfields
-------
ment rate in New England. In the last 20 years, the
target area of East Providence, with a population of
48,688, has experienced a decline in population, labor
force, and employment by major industry. Brownfields
redevelopment in East Providence is expected to
create jobs, increase the tax base, and act as a catalyst
for private investment. Brownfields redevelopment
throughout the state is expected to reuse sites, remove
contaminants, create greenspace, and address historic
preservation and smart growth issues.
------- |