Governor Rell: $2.5 Million for Brownfield Redevelopment

            Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the City of Bridgeport, the state and the Valley Council of Governments are sharing a total of $2.5 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a mix of federal stimulus money and regular funding to be used for redeveloping contaminated properties – known as “brownfields” – to attract and retain businesses and create jobs.

            “This is great news for Bridgeport and for communities all over Connecticut,” Governor Rell said. “My Administration has always been focused on keeping and creating jobs, especially in our cities. One of the very best ways to do that is to find creative new uses for former industrial properties or other sites that have fallen into disuse. These are places that – with a little bit of work – can be cleaned up and returned to the property tax rolls, giving business new places to locate and expand and bringing new economic activity to the parts of our communities that need it the most.

            “These federal funds are a great boost to our efforts, especially when the economic downturn makes it difficult to stretch state dollars far enough to do everything we want to do,” the Governor said. “This funding will jump start many shovel-ready projects that will create jobs and spur further capital investment in our communities.”

            In all, the U.S. EPA is awarding $55 million nationwide – $42 million from the stimulus program and $13 million from its general brownfields program.

            Connecticut recipients of the funding are:

·        The City of Bridgeport: $400,000 from the stimulus, $500,000 from regular funding. Stimulus funds will be used to replenish the city’s Revolving Loan Fund (RLF), from which the city provides loans and subgrants to support cleanup activities at as many as six shovel-ready petroleum-related cleanup projects. In addition, general brownfields funds will be used to provide loans and subgrants to support cleanup activities at up to 10 hazardous substances-related projects.

·        Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD): $600,000 from regular funding. Funds will be used to replenish the state RLF, from which DECD will provide loans and subgrants to support cleanup at as many as nine hazardous substances-related projects.

·        Valley Council of Governments (VCOG): $900,000 from the stimulus. Funds will be used to replenish the RLF operated by VCOG, which is made up of the cities of Ansonia, Derby, Seymour and Shelton. The Council will provide loans and subgrants to support cleanup activities at several of eight shovel-ready hazardous substances-related projects that have been identified by the Council.

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