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  Brownfields  2007

  Grant  Fact  Sheet

            Fitchburg

      Redevelopment

        Authority,  MA


EPA Brownfields Program

EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, commu-
nities, and other stakeholders 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 Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority (FRA) was
selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants.
The FRA is dedicated to reclaiming Fitchburg's old
industrial core and transforming it into sustainable
mixed-use developments. The City of Fitchburg
(population 39,102) has 150 years of manufacturing
history and is going through a difficult period
transitioning away from an industry-based economy.
The Nashua River was particularly impacted by
manufacturing. It runs through the town and its banks
are lined by older industrial properties. The town has
 Assessment Grants
 $200,000 for hazardous substances
 $200,000 for petroleum

 EPA has selected the Fitchburg Redevelopment
 Authority for two brownfields assessment grants.
 Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to
 conduct eight to ten Phase I and 20 to 40 Phase II
 environmental site assessments in Fitchburg's
 former manufacturing areas. Grant funds also will
 be used to conduct community outreach activities.
 Petroleum grant funds will be used to perform
 similar activities at sites potentially contaminated
 with petroleum.
 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
 617-918-1424
 http://www.epa.gov/region01/brownfields/

 Grant Recipient: Fitchburg Redevelopment
 Authority, MA
 978-945-9602

 The information presented in this fact sheet comes
 from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the
 accuracy of this information. The cooperative
 agreement for the grant has not yet been negoti-
 ated. Therefore, activities described in this fact
 sheet are subject to change.
higher than average unemployment and poverty rates.
Economic distress has resulted in a five percent out-
migration of Fitchburg residents between 1990 and
2000. Identifying and assessing brownfields are critical
to the city's efforts to reuse former industrial sites.
Assessments will leverage brownfields redevelopment
investments needed to provide locations for new
housing, increase tax rolls, and create a vibrant down-
town shopping district.
                                                Solid Waste and
                                                Emergency Response
                                                (5105T)
                        EPA 560-F-07-050
                        May 2007
                        www.epa.gov/brownfields

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