5 o T> Brownfields 2006 Grant Fact Sheet Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development 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 Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development was selected to receive a brownfields revolving loan fund grant. Vermont (population 608,827) is a small rural state whose brownfields sites are former paper mill, textile, machine tool, furniture, and electrical equipment manufacturing facilities. Many of the state's brownfields sites are located in historic villages and downtown areas and along historic transportation corridors, typically in areas Revolving Loan Fund Grant $750,000 for hazardous substances $250,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the Vermont Agency of Com- merce and Community Development for a brownfields revolving loan fund grant. The grant will be used to capitalize a revolving loan fund from which the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development will provide loans and subgrants to support cleanup activities at sites contaminated with petroleum and hazardous substances. Grant funds also will be used to educate state, regional, and local partners about the fund; conduct cleanup planning; and imple- ment site cleanup. 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: Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, VT 802-828-5200 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. with high unemployment and poverty levels. Residents living near many of Vermont's brownfields sites have an average poverty rate of 32 percent. Brownfields have resulted in reduced local property values and taxes, loss of potential economic opportunities, deterioration and underuse of historic buildings, and threats to human health and drinking water. Revitalized brownfields will Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 560-F-06-033 May 2006 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- invigorate downtowns and growth centers, especially on the waterfront and other former transportation corridors. Brownfields redevelopment will benefit the state by promoting productive land use in urban corridors, allowing better use of public and private investments in existing infrastructure, expanding job opportunities in locations accessible to low-income populations, and reducing the air and water pollution associated with sprawl. ------- |