Brownfields 2011 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet New Opportunities Economic Development Corporation, Waterbury, 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 New Opportunities Economic Development Corporation was selected to receive three brownfields cleanup grants. Based in Waterbury (population 107,271), the Corporation is an economic development corporation for the northwest corner of Connecticut. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, Waterbury had significant industrial interests and was the country's leading center for brassware manufacturing. The brassware industry began to decline in the second half of the century, and the last brass mill closed in the 1970s. The city's unemployment rate is 14.5 percent, and the poverty rate is 22.8 percent. There are an estimated 200 brownfields in the city. Once the 39 Cherry Street site is cleaned up, the city plans to reuse part of the site for parking and open space and redevelop the balance for two food businesses. After the 177 Cherry Street site is cleaned up, the city plans to redevelop it with green technology businesses, including the production of solar panels. Once the 215 Cherry Street site is cleaned up, the city plans to reuse the existing building with two floors for a small business and nonprofit business incubator, and three floors of housing. Cleanup and redevelopment of the target sites are expected to create temporary and permanent jobs, and increase tax revenues. Cleanup Grants $600,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the New Opportunities Economic Development Corporation for three brownfields cleanup grants. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up 39 Cherry Street, 177 Cherry Street, and 215 Cherry Street. The sites are part of a complex developed in the late 1800s for manufacturing watches and clocks. The complex was later used to manufacture tools, plastics, and clothing. The 39 Cherry Street site is contaminated with toluene, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, and heavy metals. The 177 Cherry Street and 215 Cherry Street sites are contaminated with PCBs and volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community involvement 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/regionl/bro wnfields) Grant Recipient: New Opportunities Economic Development Corporation,CT 203-575-4211 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-128-001 May 2011 ------- United States _ ., . w__tp Environmental \c EPA 560-F-128-001 _, and Emergency ... Protection Agency ResoonsefSIOSn May 2011 Washington, DC 20450 Kesponse ------- |