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  Brownfields  2007

  Grant  Fact  Sheet

       Wall of America

 Foundation,   Winsted,

                   CT


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 Wall of America Foundation was selected to
receive a brownfields cleanup grant. The Wall of
America Foundation is a non-profit organization located
in the City of Winsted (population 11,215) in the
northwest corner of Connecticut. Winsted is a tradi-
tional New England mill town. Historic mill operations,
most located along riverbanks, have left behind a
legacy of environmental degradation. Winsted has
identified 16 brownfields in the city's commercial and
residential core. These sites have contributed to the
city's negative growth rate, high unemployment rate,
 Cleanup Grant
 $200,000 for hazardous substances
 EPA has selected the Wall of America Foundation
 for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous
 substances grant funds will be used to clean up
 the 2.2-acre Whiting Hosiery Company site at 100
 Whiting Street. Since the early 1990s, the site has
 been used for industrial uses, including mill and
 chemicals storage, motorcycle repair, and wood-
 working. It is contaminated with volatile organic
 compounds. Grant funds will be used to excavate
 and dispose of contaminated soil and to support
 community involvement 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
 617-918-1424
 http://www.epa.gov/region01/brownfields/
 Grant Recipient: Wall of America Foundation, CT
 860-364-0156
 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.
low per capita income, and blighted neighborhoods.
The target site is located less than half a mile from two
day care centers and about a quarter mile from a
senior center. Cleanup of the site will reduce blight and
remove potential hazards from the community. The
Wall of America Foundation plans to redevelop the site
to incorporate a national art exhibit as a tribute to
working people in the United States, and a visitors
center. This redevelopment is expected to increase
                                                 Solid Waste and
                                                 Emergency Response
                                                 (5105T)
                        EPA560-F-07-187
                        May 2007
                        www.epa.gov/brownfields

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tourism, generate jobs, and create a cultural gathering
place that offers educational opportunities for children
and adults.

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