Brownfields 2010 Revolving Loan Fund Grant (gM Fact Sheet Rockingham Economic Development Corporation, Southeast New Hampshire 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 Rockingham Economic Development Corporation (REDC) was selected to receive a brownfields revolving loan fund grant. The REDC"s planning region encompasses 27 towns in southeastern New Hampshire (combined population 178,997). The region has a history of industrial activity that dates back to the 1800s and included clothing and textile mills, timber processing, and machine shops. Declines in these industries have left behind 345 acres of brownfields in the target communities of Seabrook, Epping, Plaistow, Hampton, and Exeter. The REDC considers these communities to be most in need of support. In Epping, the per capita income is $18,343. Seabrook and Plaistow have higher unemployment rates than the county average. Brownfield cleanups conducted through the RLF grant will reduce contamination and are expected to spur redevelopment efforts, providing opportunities for the creation of greenspace, affordable housing, and new jobs. Revolving Loan Fund Grant $1,000,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the Rockingham Economic Development Corporation for a brownfields revolving loan fund grant. The grant will be used to capitalize a revolving loan fund from which the Rockingham Economic Development Corporation will provide loans and subgrants to support cleanup activities for sites contaminated with hazardous substances. Grant funds also will be used to 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/regionl/bro wnfields ) Grant Recipient: Rockingham Economic Development Corporation,NH 603-772-2655 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 c Environmental anri Fmpflpn™ EPA 560-F-10-177 Protection Agency Response (5105T) April 2010 Washington, DC 20450 Kesponse (si us ) ------- |