^lDir'% * ^fl^b • ' iMy ] Brownfields 2009 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet ^ ***/ A^eiv Garden Park, Inc., Worcester, MA EPA Brownfields Program EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states. communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield 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. In 2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act was passed to help states and communities around the country cleanup and revitalize brownfields sites. 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 New Garden Park, Inc., was selected to receive two brownfields cleanup grants. The cleanup sites are in Worcester (population 172,644), which is located at what was once the head of the Blackstone Canal in central Massachusetts. The area is widely considered the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. Its location made Worcester a center for manufacturing innovation for more than a generation. However, the steady decline in industrial operations has left behind many vacant and underused properties, and extensive environmental contamination. The city currently contains over 200 documented brownfield sites. Cleanup of the former school is expected to lead to redevelopment of the site into a housing complex, and continue the city's progress toward completing the Gateway Park project. The project is a redevelopment initiative designed to create a vibrant, mixed-use community in the area, and generate over 2,000 permanent jobs. Cleanup Grants $400,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected New Garden Park, Inc., for two brownfields cleanup grants. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up the former Worcester Vocational High School - Parcel B, located at 26 Salisbury Street, and Worcester Vocational High School - Parcel C, located at 34 Grove Street. Both parcels are contaminated by hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum due to a history of lumber and manufacturing operations on the site. 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 (http://www.epa.gov/brownfields). EPA Region 1 Brownfields Team (617)918-1424 EPA Region 1 Brownfields Web site (http: //www. epa.gov/region 1 /brownfields) Grant Recipient: New Garden Park, Inc.,MA (508) 755-5734 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 negotiated. Therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC 20450 Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA560-F-09-180 May 09 ------- |