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  Brownfields  2005
  Grant  Fact  Sheet
     North Adams, 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 North Adams was selected to receive a
brownfields cleanup grant. North Adams (population
14,491) is ahistorical mill town along the Hoosic River
in the northwestern corner of Massachusetts. With the
decline of many industries following World War II and
the 1985 closing of one of the city's largest employers,
unemployment in  the city has increased. Despite a
number of encouraging signs, the city is still struggling
with its recovery and has been designated a federal
Empowerment Zone. It remains below the state's
averages in employment, income, and other key
economic indicators. More than 58 percent of the city's
residents are considered low-income. Cleanup and
redevelopment of the former garage site on Union
                      Cleanup Grant
                      $104,000 for hazardous substances
                      EPA has selected the City of North Adams for a
                      brownfields cleanup grant. Grant funds for the
                      cleanup of the former garage site at 128 Union
                      Street will be used to remove and dispose of
                      contaminated soil and conduct in-situ groundwater
                      treatment. From 1929 to 1983, a portion of the
                      property was used for gasoline sales and automo-
                      tive services, and is contaminated with volatile
                      organic compounds, lead, mercury, and other
                      metals.
                      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 North Adams, MA
                      413-662-3011

                      The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
                      yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
                      in this fact sheet are subject to change.
                    Street as a memorial park and/or community garden
                    would improve the quality of life for this already
                    established community and serve as a gateway park to
                    the northeastern entrance to the city.
                                                 Solid Waste and
                                                 Emergency Response
                                                 (5105T)
                                            EPA560-F-05-170
                                            May 2005
                                            www.epa.gov/brownfields

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