Governor Jim Douglas was joined by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and local officials today to announce that the State of Vermont has been awarded $400,000 from the federal government to replenish its revolving loan fund for cleaning up contaminated brownfields sites. The Governor made the announcement at the site of the former Fonda Container Company/Solo Cup property, which received $400,000 in federal funds last year for the ongoing cleanup of contamination caused by paper manufacturing there.
“These funds will help us continue with the re-development of sites like this all over the state,” Governor Douglas said. “Turning these brownfields into clean, safe spaces for re-development will help communities from St. Albans to Springfield revitalize their local economies.”
In addition to the $400,000 for the state’s revolving loan fund, the Environmental Protection Agency also awarded a similar amount to the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission (SWCRPC) to re-capitalize its brownfields revolving loan fund and $1 million to the Northwest Regional Planning Commission (NWRPC) to re-capitalize their revolving loan fund as well. To date, the state has been awarded over $1.9 million for clean-up of brownfields sites; SWCRPC has been awarded close to $3 million in RLF and assessment funding; and NWRPC is now receiving $1 million for its fund.
“These funds are critical, because even with laws that protect investors in these properties from liability it is still difficult to convince people and institutions to take the risks associated with contaminated properties and get them re-developed,” the Governor added.
For additional information about the Governor’s Vermont Brownfields Initiative, please see the Agency of Commerce and Community Development website at: http://www.dhca.state.vt.us/brownfields/index.htm.
Source: Governor's office. 8.18.2010
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Governor announces $400,000 'brownfields' clean-up grant
Submitted by tim
on