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  Brownfields  2007

  Grant  Fact  Sheet

        1/VbrcesfeA;  M/A


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 Worcester was selected to receive a
brownfields assessment grant. Worcester (population
175,966) has a long industrial and manufacturing history.
In the past, large factory complexes provided city
residents with ample job opportunities. As manufactur-
ing industries declined, so did the quality of life in many
of the city's neighborhoods. South Worcester has been
especially impacted by this decline. Over ten years,
South Worcester's poverty rate significantly increased
to 31 percent. Its unemployment rate exceeds the
citywide  rate. Worcester contains more than 200
brownfield sites, many of which are located in South
Worcester. It is expected that brownfields reassessment
will leverage cleanup and redevelopment funding,
providing opportunities for new businesses, affordable
housing, greenspace, and employment opportunities.
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Worcester for a
brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous sub-
stances grant funds will be used to conduct four
to six Phase I and II environmental site assess-
ments throughout Worcester. Sites in South
Worcester will be given priority. Grant funds also
will be used to support community outreach
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 Worcester, MA
508-799-1400, ext. 238

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.
                                                  Solid Waste and
                                                  Emergency Response
                                                  (5105T)
                        EPA560-F-07-196
                        May 2007
                        www.epa.gov/brownfields

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