Q \ Brownfields 2004 Assessment and Revolving
Loan Fund Grant Fact Sheet
Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation

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. 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. Additionally, funding support is provided
to state and tribal response programs through a separate
mechanism.
Community Description
The Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation
was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant
and a revolving loan fund grant. The state's population is
1,048,319. Rhode Island's role in the industrial revolution
has left the state with many vacant, abandoned, and
contaminated textile mills and factories. The state has an
estimated 300 brownfields, most of which are in areas
with high poverty rates and urban blight. Rhode Island's
manufacturing base has steadily eroded, resulting in the
loss of 25,000 private sector jobs between 1992 and 2002.
The state-wide unemployment rate is the second highest
unemployment rate in New England. In the last 20 years,
the target area of East Providence, with a population of
48,688, has experienced a decline in population, labor
force, and employment by major industry. Brownfields
redevelopment in East Providence is expected to create
jobs, increase the tax base, and act as a catalyst for private
investment. Brownfields redevelopment throughout the
state is expected to reuse sites, remove contaminants,
create greenspace, and address historic preservation and
smart growth issues.
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$800,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the Rhode Island Economic
Development Corporation to receive a brownfields
asssessment grant. Hazardous substances grant
funds and petroleum assessment grant funds will
both be used to perform Phase I, II, and III
assessments at sites throughout the state's 39
municipalities. Grant funds also will be used for
community outreach activities.
Revolving Loan Fund Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$800,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the Rhode Island Economic
Development Corporation to receive a brownfields
revolving loan fund grant. Funds will be used to
capitalize a revolving loan fund from which the
Rhode Island Economic Development
Corporation, in partnership with the City of East
Providence, will provide loans and subgrants to
sites contaminated with petroleum in the state's 39
municipalities.
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: Rhode Island Economic
Development Corporation
(401)222-2601
United States	c
Environmental	anri Fmpflpn™	EPA 560-F-04-185
Protection Agency	Response (5105T)	June 2004
Washington, DC 20450	Kesponse (si us )

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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
and Emergency
Response (5105T)
Solid Waste
EPA 560-F-04-185
June 2004

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