03/26/2017
Gov. Malloy Announces Opportunities to Remediate and Revitalize Brownfields in Connecticut
State Accepting Applications for Latest Round of Grants under the Connecticut Brownfield Remediation Program through May 16, 2017
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is now accepting applications for its eleventh round of competitive grant funding for the state’s Brownfield Remediation Program, under which the state partners with local municipalities and economic development agencies to put blighted properties back into productive 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.”
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 for grant funding include municipalities and economic development agencies. Applicants 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.
“Major investments in brownfield redevelopment are a core economic development priority because these projects help a community take back underutilized properties — sites that often were once a center of commerce — and put them back into a productive use that benefits residents, neighborhoods and businesses,” DECD Commissioner Catherine Smith said.
“Redeveloping brownfields is a win for the environment and for the economy,” Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Rob Klee said. “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. This also reduces the pressure to develop open space. DEEP looks forward to continuing to work with DECD, our cities and towns, and other government and private sector partners to continue Connecticut’s role as a national leader in brownfield redevelopment.”
”Under Governor Malloy’s leadership, Connecticut has become a national leader in redeveloping brownfields, and with this latest round of funding we expect to make new investments in promising projects across the state,” DECD Deputy Commissioner Tim Sullivan said. “These investments represent unique opportunities to bring new vitality and economic activity to sites which have languished with blight for too long.”
All projects will be rated and ranked by an inter-agency committee on the following criteria:
- Applicant/municipal financial need;
- Remediation/cleanup (or assessment) project feasibility;
- Redevelopment project feasibility;
- Redevelopment project economic and community impact;
- Responsible growth and livability initiatives; and
- Applicant capacity and experience.
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.