Brownfields 2011 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet stratford> CT 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 The Town of Stratford was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Located in southwestern Connecticut, Stratford (population 49,976) has long been associated with heavy manufacturing. Historically, it has been a center of the defense and aviation industry and is the birthplace of the American helicopter industry. Several manufacturers have closed or relocated, leaving behind vacant, underused, and contaminated properties that have negatively impacted employment opportunities and economic development. During the past 15 years, the town has lost over 6,200 manufacturing jobs. Over the past five years, the unemployment rate has nearly doubled to 10.3 percent. The median household income is significantly lower than the national average. The town will focus site assessments on the South End, the most disadvantaged neighborhood in town, and the Transit Centered Development district, where plans for a new residential and mixed-used development district are in place. Brownfield assessments are expected to encourage cleanup of vacant and contaminated industrial properties in the South End, and enable development of bike paths. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the Town of Stratford for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct between six and eight environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to inventory and prioritize sites, and support community outreach activities. 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: Town of Stratford,CT 203-385-4084 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) E PA 560-F-128-003 May 11 ------- |