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Brownfields 2007
Grant Fact Sheet
Springfield, MA
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 Springfield was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Springfield (population
152,082), once home to Bee-Gee airplanes, Rolls
Royce cars, and Indian motorcycles, is a city with a
proud tradition of manufacturing and invention. As
businesses fled and jobs were lost to suburban neigh-
borhoods, the city faced economic decline and disin-
vestment. It was left with a legacy of unused contami-
nated land. Springfield's current unemployment rate
exceeds the state average by four percent, and 23
percent of its residents live below the poverty level.
The populations of the two areas targeted for assess-
ment, the North End and Mason Square, are 74 and 95
percent minorities, respectively. Fifty-six of the 75
listed brownfields in the city are in these two areas.
Brownfields deter economic investment and contribute
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the City of Springfield for two
brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous
substances grant funds will be used to update the
city's brownfields inventory, and to perform Phase
I and II environmental site assessments. Funds
also will be used to conduct community outreach
activities. Petroleum funds will be used to perform
the same tasks at sites with potential petroleum
contamination.
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 Springfield, MA
413-787-6020
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.
to neighborhood deterioration. Assessment of priority
sites will make the properties more competitive in the
marketplace and help the city leverage private invest-
ment in the areas.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA560-F-07-164
May 2007
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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