Governor Malloy's Office announces initiative to develop state's brownfields

Hartford--Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy's office announced today that applications for the latest round of grants under the Connecticut Brownfield Remediation program will be accepted through May 16 of this year.

The dictionary defines a brownfield as "a former industrial or commercial site where future use is affected by real or perceived environmental contamination." The Environmental Protection Agency has operated its Brownfield Program to help tribes, states, and other communities restore brownfield properties since 1995.

The release reads in part that in this, the eleventh round of competitive grant funding under which Connecticut partners with local municipalities and economic development agencies, "blighted properties" are being put back to use: "Under this round, a total of $4 million will be earmarked for remediation projects and $1 million will be reserved for assessment projects."

“We have made brownfield remediation and redevelopment an important part of our economic development agenda because of its environmental, economic, community, and fiscal benefits,” Governor Malloy said. “Connecticut is now a leader in unlocking the potential of brownfields and repurposing these properties so that they no longer drain local resources but rather add value and boost local economies.”

According to Malloy's office, since 2012 the state has invested $191 million to "investigate, clean up, and help revitalize more than 160 old or vacant factories, mills, warehouses and other contaminated sites and structures."

Eligible applicants include municipalities and economic development agencies, who can request funding of up to $2 million for remediation projects and up to $200,000 for assessment projects. Awards may be used for a range of brownfield assessment, remediation and redevelopment activities, including abatement, demolition, site investigation and assessment, groundwater monitoring, installation of institutional controls, and professional service fees associated with redevelopment including attorney’s fees, and planning, design and consulting fees.

“Redeveloping brownfields is a win for the environment and for the economy,” Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Rob Klee said, adding in part that, “This investment transforms contaminated properties from an environmental and economic burden to an asset to local communities and the whole state. Brownfields are a wise choice for development and growth, as these properties and the surrounding areas have had significant infrastructure investments in water, sewer, transportation, and energy."

Projects will be rated and ranked by an inter-agency committee on criteria such as applicant/municipality financial need; redevelopment project economic and community applicant; and project feasibility.

The rating and ranking sheet for this funding round, which provides additional details on application criteria, as well as the program applicant, are available at www.ctbrownfields.gov. Applications must be submitted via email to brownfields@ct.gov no later than Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Follow the Governor's office on Twitter.

Photo: A prime brownfield site at Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, Leeds, West Yorkshire. Nov. 16, 2013,by Mtaylor848.