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Brownfields 2006
Grant Fact Sheet
Woonsocket, 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 Woonsocket was selected to receive a
brownfields assessment grant. Located in northern
Rhode Island, Woonsocket (population 43,224) was a
booming textile manufacturing center during the 19th
Century. During the 20th Century, it struggled eco-
nomically as manufacturing jobs left the region. From
1992 to 2002, the city lost almost half of its remaining
manufacturing jobs. It is now characterized by its
numerous underutilized and abandoned mill com-
plexes. Today, per capita income is 74 percent of the
state average, and more than 64 percent of the city's
residents are classified as having low-to-moderate
incomes. There are 182 brownfields in the city,
including many located in areas with higher concentra-
tions of minority residents and people living in pov-
erty. When brownfields are assessed, they will be used
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Woonsocket for a
brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous sub-
stances grant funds will be used to perform up to
four Phase I and up to two Phase II environmen-
tal site assessments. Funds also will be used for
cleanup planning, and community outreach and
education 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: City of Woonsocket, RI
401-767-1418
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
for mixed-use development or greenspace expansion.
Brownfields redevelopment will create jobs, mitigate
environmental hazards, remove blight, revitalize
underserved neighborhoods, create improved open
space along the Blackstone River, and return properties
to the tax rolls.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-06-025
May 2006
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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