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  Brownfields  2004
  Grant  Fact Sheet
       Meeting Street,
       Providence, Rl
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. 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, the President
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. Additionally, funding
support is provided to state and tribal response pro-
grams through a separate mechanism.

Community Description

Meeting Street was selected to receive a brownfields
cleanup grant. The 0.88-square-mile target community
of Lower South Providence (population 5,744), which
is isolated from the city by 1-95, is a federally desig-
nated Enterprise Zone/Empowerment Zone with
numerous vacant lots and little recreational space. The
median household income is $16,857, less than two-
thirds the city median. Approximately 40 percent of the
families in this predominantly Hispanic and African-
American neighborhood live in poverty. According to
the 1990 census, Lower South Providence had a 20
percent unemployment rate. Cleanup of the target site
                       Cleanup Grant
                       $200,000 for hazardous substances
                       EPA has selected Meeting Street for a
                       brownfields cleanup grant. Grant funds will be
                       used to clean up five properties along Eddy and
                       Haswell Streets that comprise the seven-acre
                       Meeting Street National Center for Excellence
                       site. The properties are a mix of former residen-
                       tial and commercial sites where the soil appears
                       to be contaminated with lead, arsenic, and other
                       hazardous substances.
                       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
                      617-918-1221
                      http://www.epa.gov/region01/brownfields/

                      Grant Recipient: Meeting Street, RI
                      401-438-9500

                      The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
                      yet been negotiated; therefore, the activities
                      described in this fact sheet are subject to change.
                    will allow for the construction of the Meeting Street
                    National Center for Excellence, a state-of-the-art
                    campus that will serve approximately 1,700 children
                    and their families. The new facility also will provide the
                    neighborhood with a community center and nearly
                    three acres of greenspace. It is anticipated to bring 369
                    new jobs, and increase economic output and household
                    earnings in the community.
                                                 Solid Waste and
                                                 Emergency Response
                                                 (5105T)
                                            EPA 560-F-04-078
                                            June 2004
                                            www.epa.gov/brownfields

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