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Brownfields 2006
Grant Fact Sheet
Providence, Rl
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 City of Providence was selected to receive a
brownfields assessment grant, and a brownfields
cleanup grant. Located in eastern Rhode Island,
Providence (population 176,365) has at least 300
brownfields sites, including several in seven neighbor-
hoods targeted for assessments. After World War II,
industry and jobs at mills and manufacturing plants in
those neighborhoods relocated or shut down. Today,
median household incomes in the neighborhoods range
from 45 to 76 percent of the state income, and from 17
to 41 percent of families live below the poverty level.
The former Lincoln Lace and Braid Mill, targeted for
cleanup, is in the Woonasquatucket River Valley,
where the river provided support for the city's mercan-
tile trade and industrial growth. There is disinvestment
and decline in the project neighborhood, where the
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Providence for a
brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous sub-
stances grant funds will be used to perform up to
ten Phase I and at least seven Phase II environ-
mental site assessments in seven target neighbor-
hoods that are among the poorest in the city.
Funds also will be used for community involve-
ment activities.
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$200,000 for hazardous substances
Cleanup Grant
EPA has selected the City of Providence for a
brownfields cleanup grant. Grant funds will be
used to clean up the former Lincoln Lace and
Braid Mill at 55 Ponagansett Avenue, which is
contaminated with heavy metals, volatile organic
compounds, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocar-
bons. Funds also will be used for an engineered
cap design and for community involvement
activities. When the site is cleaned up, it will
become a public park that will include two soccer
fields and recreation areas.
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: City of Providence, RI
401-351-4300
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-06-023
May 2006
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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median household income is 67 percent of the state
average, and 40 percent of families live below the
poverty level. The impacts of brownfields in the
neighborhoods include visual blight, higher rates of
asthma and respiratory diseases, and hindered eco-
nomic development. When the assessed sites are
cleaned up, they will be used to jump-start private
development and provide greenspace. The Lincoln
Lace and Braid Mill will become part of a seven-mile
greenway project, and a public park that will include
two soccer fields and recreation areas. Development of
these brownfields will serve as a catalyst for economic
growth, removing blight and potential health risks, and
revitalizing distressed urban neighborhoods of Provi-
dence.
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