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  Brownfields  2008

  Grant  Fact Sheet

     Soa#7  Worcester

        Neighborhood

         Improvement

      Corporation,  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 this 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. Additionally, funding support is
provided to state and tribal response programs through
a separate mechanism.
Community Description
The South Worcester Neighborhood Improvement
Corporation (SWNIC) was selected to receive two
brownfields cleanup grants. The SWNIC is a non-
profit, community-based development organization in
the City of Worcester. South Worcester (population
3,327) is one of the most blighted neighborhoods in the
city and contains 19 acres of contaminated sites. The
average per capita income is $12,320, and 31 percent
of neighborhood residents live below the poverty level.
 Cleanup Grants
 $73,250 for hazardous substances
 EPA has selected the South Worcester Neighbor-
 hood Improvement Corporation for two brown-
 fields cleanup grants. Hazardous substances grant
 funds will be used to clean up Parcels I and II of
 the former City Builders Supply Company/
 Southgate Place Development site in the South
 Worcester neighborhood. The site has been used
 as a lumber company, dry cleaner, hazardous waste
 container storage facility, and auto repair shop. It is
 contaminated with inorganic materials. Grant funds
 will be used to develop and execute cleanup plans,
 and install special foundations to protect indoor air
 quality for each building. Grant funds also will be
 used to conduct community involvement 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/regionl/brownfields
 Grant Recipient: South Worcester Neighborhood
 Improvement Corporation, MA
 508-757-8344
 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.
The unemployment rate in South Worcester is 39
percent. The decline in income and increase in poverty
rates have resulted in a deteriorating housing stock.
Cleanup of the former City Builders Supply Company/
                                               Solid Waste and
                                               Emergency Response
                                               (5105T)
                       EPA 560-F-08-020
                       April 2008
                       www.epa.gov/brownfields

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Southgate Place Development site is expected to
expedite the redevelopment of the site with 19 rental
units, eight townhouses, and open greenspace. Cleanup
and redevelopment activities are expected to create
almost 200 temporary jobs, increase property values in
the neighborhood, and catalyze additional redevelop-
ment.

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