I jBh | Brownfields 2006 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet
V'/ Woonsocket, Rl
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 City of Woonsocket was selected to receive a
brownfields assessment grant. Located in northern Rhode
Island, Woonsocket (population 43,224) was a booming
textile manufacturing center during the 19th Century.
During the 20th Century, it struggled economically as
manufacturing jobs left the region. From 1992 to 2002,
the city lost almost half of its remaining manufacturing
jobs. It is now characterized by its numerous underutilized
and abandoned mill complexes. Today, per capita income
is 74 percent of the state average, and more than 64
percent of the city's residents are classified as having
low-to-moderate incomes. There are 182 brownfields in
the city, including many located in areas with higher
concentrations of minority residents and people living in
poverty. When brownfields are assessed, they will be used
for mixed-use development or greenspace expansion.
Brownfields redevelopment will create jobs, mitigate
environmental hazards, remove blight, revitalize
underserved neighborhoods, create improved open space
along the Blackstone River, and return properties to the
tax rolls.
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Woonsocket for a
brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous
substances grant funds will be used to perform up
to four Phase I and up to two Phase II
environmental site assessments. Funds also will be
used for cleanup planning, and community
outreach and education 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: City of Woonsocket,RI
(401)767-1418
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-06-025
Protection Agency	Response (5105T)	May 2006
Washington, DC 20450	Kesponse (si us )

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