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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
                                                                 TNewl
                                                                 A2003J
                       $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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