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  Brownfields  2005
  Grant  Fact Sheet
   Norfolk  County,  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

Norfolk County was selected to receive a brownfields
assessment grant. During the 18th and 19th Centuries,
the Norfolk region of Massachusetts was a center of
industry, home to a variety of mills and factories. The
decline in these industries has resulted in an erosion of
the industrial and commercial tax base, a decline in
manufacturing jobs, and many abandoned and
underutilized sites. The targeted communities of
Franklin, Wrentham, and Plainville (total population
47,797) are three of Norfolk County's (population
650,308) high-growth towns. From 1990 to 2000,
Franklin experienced a 34 percent increase in popula-
tion, Wrentham experienced a 17 percent increase, and
Plainville experienced a 12 percent increase. The
   Assessment Grant    (20051
   $200,000 for hazardous substances
   EPA has selected Norfolk County for a
   brownfields assessment grant. Funds will be used
   to develop an inventory of sites, evaluate and
   prioritize the sites, perform up to six Phase I and
   two Phase II site assessments, and conduct
   community outreach activities pertaining to the
   redevelopment of the sites in partnership with the
   towns of Franklin, Plainville, and Wrentham.
   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: Norfolk County, MA
   781-461-6159

   The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
   yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
   in this fact sheet are subject to change.
residential growth in these towns has surpassed
commercial growth and the availability of jobs in the
area, exerting stress on the municipalities. Redevelop-
ment of brownfields sites is expected to increase
economic development in the region, bringing new
businesses and job opportunities to the county and
diversifying its tax base. Revitalization of the sites will
also help preserve greenspace and protect environmen-
tal resources and residents from the potential risks of
brownfields.
                                                  Solid Waste and
                                                  Emergency Response
                                                  (5105T)
                         EPA569-F-05-016
                         May 2005
                         www.epa.gov/brownfields

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