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Brownfields 2003
Grant Fact Sheet
Rutland Regional
Planning Commission, VT
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 Rutland Regional Planning Commission was
selected to receive an assessment grant. The popula-
tion of the 26 communities in this rural region ranges
from 300 to 4,300 residents. Only the City of Rutland,
which has received a prior brownfields assessment
grant, is excluded from the commission's regional
grant. Rutland's economy has undergone a significant
shift in the past thirty years as traditional industries
have slowly disappeared due to changes in the
economy. In particular, there has been a dramatic loss
of jobs in the manufacturing sector. Median household
income in the area served by the commission is below
state and national medians. With stagnant economies,
many Vermont towns can barely afford basic services,
Assessment Grant
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$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the Rutland Regional Planning
Commission for a brownfields assessment grant.
Acting on the behalf of 26 member communities,
the commission will conduct environmental
assessments on sites selected through an inclu-
sive community process. Grant funds also will be
used to inventory sites in the member communi-
ties and to conduct an outreach campaign to
property owners, local residents, business groups,
and other stakeholders.
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: Rutland Regional Planning
Commission, VT
802-775-0871
Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, the
Rutland Regional Planning Commission has not received
brownfields grant funding.
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been
negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet
are subject to change.
such as education, healthcare, and snow removal.
Brownfields redevelopment will help improve the long-
term economic health of the region, create living-wage
jobs, address housing shortages, and generate new
recreational opportunities for tourism.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA500-F-03-177
June 2003
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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