washington d.c. – US Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced an investment of $24.2 million from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to helping underserved and economically disadvantaged communities in the state of Maine conduct brownfield assessments and clean up abandoned industrial and commercial properties.
“We welcome this funding from the EPA Brownfields Programs, which will help identify potential hazards and encourage community development in Maine,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “In addition to cleaning up hazardous substances and improving our environment, this investment will help communities create new development opportunities to attract businesses that create good jobs for Mainers.”
Maine receives nine grants under the Brownfields Cleanup and Assessment Grants, two grants under the Revolving Loan Fund Program, and six grants for additional funding under the Revolving Loan Fund Program.
Funding will be distributed as follows:
The Brownfields Cleanup Grants are as follows:
- Our Katahdine will receive $1,000,000 to assess and process the former Great Northern Paper Company.
- Town of Rockland will receive $500,000 to approach Shafter Junkyard.
The following community-wide brownfield assessment grants will be used to address various sites in cities, towns, or service areas of the listed planning organizations:
- City of Bath will receive $500,000 for community-wide site assessments, including 65 Bowery Street.
- City of Belfast will receive $500,000 for community-wide site assessments, including 126 Church Street.
- Eastern Maine Development Corporation will receive $500,000 for community-wide site assessments, including Former Striar Textile and Great Northern Paper.
- City of Gardiner will receive $500,000 for community-wide reviews, including Cobbossee Steam Corridor.
- City of Gray will receive $500,000 for community-wide site assessments, including Cobb Equipment.
- Piscataquis County Economic Development Corporation will receive $500,000 for community-wide site assessments including Greenville, Dover-Foxcroft and Milo.
- South Portland City will receive $500,000 for community-wide assessments, including Fore River Waterfront.
- City of Waterville will receive $500,000 for downtown assessment work.
The Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grant and additional RLF grants are available to the following organizations:
- Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments will receive $1,000,000 to complete their successful RFL program serving the Androscoggin Valley region.
- City of Belfast will receive $1,000,000 for a new Brownfields RFL program for the city to help support brownfields cleanups at sites such as 126 Church Street and others.
- Eastern Maine Development Corporation will receive $1,000,000 for a new Brownfields RLF program to help support the cleanup of brownfields across the region, including sites such as Great Northern Paper and others.
- Greater Portland Council of Governments will receive $3,900,000 to complete their successful RFL program serving the Greater Portland area.
- Kennebec Valley Council of Governments will receive $1,000,000 to complete its successful RFL program serving the Kennebec Valley region.
- Maine Department of Economic and Community Development will receive $3,900,000 to complete their successful statewide RFL program.
- City of Portland will receive $3,000,000 to complete their successful RFL program serving the city of Portland.
- Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission will receive $3,900,000 to complete their successful RFL program serving the Southern Maine region
EPA’s Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Brownfields Grants provide funding for a recipient to capitalize a revolving loan fund and provide loans and subgrants to conduct cleanup activities on brownfield sites. Through these grants, the EPA strengthens the market and encourages stakeholders to mobilize resources to clean up and redevelop brownfields. When the loans are repaid, the loan amount is returned to the fund and re-lent to other borrowers, providing an ongoing source of capital within a community. The additional RFL funds announced today go to communities that have successfully used their revolving loan funds to clean up and redevelop brownfields. The additional funds will be used to continue their progress in reusing vacant and abandoned properties and transforming them into community assets such as housing, recreational and open spaces, health facilities, social services and business opportunities.
A brownfield is a property that contains a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant that may impede the potential for reuse or redevelopment of the site. EPA’s Brownfields programs help states and local communities assess, safely clean up, and reuse brownfields for economic development projects.
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