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 Brownfields  2003

 Grant Fact  Sheet

Fitchburg  Redevelopment

          Authority,  MA


 EPA Brownfields Program

 EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, commu-
 nities, and other stakeholders in economic development
 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. 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 Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority was selected
 to receive an assessment grant. Fitchburg (population
 39,000) is an old industrial mill city that is facing a
 difficult transition into the new economy. Unemploy-
 ment and poverty levels are higher than state and
 national averages. The rehabilitation of brownfields into
 modern centers of employment and commerce will be
 a magnet for investment by the private sector and for
 the creation of high-paying jobs. The redevelopment
 authority is focusing its brownfields efforts on 224
 acres in Fitchburg's blighted downtown. Ten sites have
 been identified that are critical to revitalization of the
 city's urban core, the preservation of open space, and
 the creation of a bike path along the Nashua River.
                                 Assessment Grant
                                 $200,000 for hazardous substances
                                 EPA has selected the Fitchburg Redevelopment
                                 Authority for a brownfields assessment grant.
                                 The redevelopment authority will use grant funds
                                 to assess ten brownfield sites with high redevel-
                                 opment potential and that have real or perceived
                                 environmental concerns that have discouraged
                                 private-sector redevelopment. Grant funds also
                                 will be used to develop an inventory of
                                 brownfields within the city and to conduct
                                 community outreach.
                                 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
                                 617-918-1210
                                 http://www.epa.gov/region01/brownfields/

                                 Grant Recipient: Fitchburg Redevelopment
                                 Authority, MA
                                 978-345-9602

                                 Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, the
                                 Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority has not received
                                 brownfields grant funding. The City of Fitchburg has
                                 received brownfields funding for an assessment grant.

                                 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been
                                 negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet
                                 are subject to change.
                               The redevelopment authority is involving neighborhood
                               residents and businesses in the process of redeveloping
                               Fitchburg's brownfields.
                                                  Solid Waste and
                                                  Emergency Response
                                                  (5105T)
                                                       EPA 500-F-03-093
                                                       June 2003
                                                       www.epa.gov/brownfields

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