Press Releases
03/04/2015
Gov. Malloy: New Round of Funding Will Help Clean Up and Reactivate Connecticut Brownfields
(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is now accepting applications for a new round of grant funding of up to $7.5 million that will be awarded to help remediate and redevelop brownfield sites throughout the state. A total of $6.5 million will be earmarked for remediation projects and $1 million will be earmarked for assessment projects.
"With the right investment, state and local governments can work together to restore blighted properties that can bolster our economy and add to our quality of life," said Governor Malloy. "When we clean up these sites and repurpose them, we can turn what was once an eyesore into a community asset that can help revitalize a neighborhood and spark economic growth."
"This funding demonstrates our continued commitment to Connecticut cities and towns, and our economic development," said Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman. "Beyond the clear benefits of removing toxins and poisons from our environment, brownfield remediation is another partnership between state government and local communities that improves the quality of life for residents, creates jobs, and restores land to viability."
Since 2011, the Malloy administration has allocated nearly more than $110 million in state funding for brownfield remediation and redevelopment in the form of loans and grants to municipalities and developers. For every dollar invested by the state, $3.43 has been or will be invested by non-state partners. By comparison, since 1995, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has invested $190 million nationally for brownfield cleanup. In August, DECD awarded $27 million to 20 remediation and redevelopment projects, which was the largest round of brownfield remediation investments ever made in the state's history.
The funding announced today will be made available under the Connecticut Brownfield Remediation Program. Eligible applicants for grant funding include municipalities and economic development agencies. Grant 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 services fees associated with redevelopment including attorney's fees, and planning, design and consulting fees.
"As Connecticut's economy continues to grow and add new jobs, we have seen a significant increase in interest in brownfield redevelopment from businesses and developers that are eager to reactivate sites with great infrastructure and transportation resources, such as brownfields," said DECD Commissioner Catherine H. Smith. "With targeted public investment in remediation and assessment, we believe we can convert more brownfields into economic assets."
"Cleaning up and redeveloping brownfields is a win for the environment and for the economy," said Robert J. Klee, Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection. "Redeveloping brownfields transforms these sites from an environmental and economic burden to an asset to local communities and the whole state. Brownfield locations are also the 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 enhances local economies and helps to reduce the pressure to develop open space."
"Under Governor Malloy's leadership and in partnership with the General Assembly, Connecticut is becoming a national leader in the remediation and redevelopment of brownfields," said DECD Deputy Commissioner Tim Sullivan. "Across the state, long-stuck sites are being brought back to productive reuse, and we look forward to making additional investments in the projects that will seek funding in this new application round."
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;
- Applicant capacity and experience.
The rating and ranking sheet for this funding round, which provides further details on application criteria, as well as the program application, are available at www.ctbrownfields.gov .
Applications must be submitted via email to brownfields@ct.gov no later than April 14, 2015.
Questions related to the application must be submitted to brownfields@ct.gov by March 23, 2015; responses will be posted at www.ctbrownfields.gov by March 30, 2015.
DECD will also be participating in a series of regional information sessions for potential applicants interested in learning more about this round of funding. Below is the schedule and location of these sessions.
- Southeast CT : March 16, 2015, 10am. 5 Connecticut Avenue, Norwich. Hosted by the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments.
- Naugatuck Valley / Northwest CT : March 16, 2015, 2pm. Waterbury Chamber of Commerce, 83 Bank St #2. Hosted by the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments.
- Capitol Region : March 17, 2015, 12pm. MIRA Trash Museum, 211 Murphy Road, Hartford. Hosted by the Capital Region Council of Governments.
- Greater New Haven : March 18, 2015, 11am. United Way of Greater New Haven, Inc., 370 James Street, Suite 403. Hosted by Regional Economic Xcelleration (REX).
- Northeast CT : March 23, 2015, 10am. 125 Putnam Pike, Dayville. Hosted by the Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments.
- Southwest CT / Fairfield County : March 24, 2015, 10:30am. 999 Broad Street, Bridgeport. Hosted by the Greater Bridgeport Regional Council.
For more information about the application process or other brownfield redevelopment programs please visit www.ctbrownfields.gov.
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For Immediate Release: March 4, 2015
Contact: David Bednarz
Office of Governor Dannel P. Malloy
David.Bednarz@ct.gov
860-524-7315 (office)
860-770-9792 (cell)
Contact: Jim Watson
Department of Economic and Community Development
Jim.Watson@ct.gov
860-270-8182 (office)
860-306-3737 (cell)
Twitter: @GovMalloyOffice
Facebook: Office of Governor Dannel P. Malloy