State Legislators Applaud $400,000 EPA Brownfield Grants Awarded to Town of Stratford

Hartford – State Senators Kevin C. Kelly (R-21) and Andres Ayala, Jr. (D-23) and State Representatives Laura Hoydick (R-120) and Larry Miller (R-122) applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to award $400,000 in grants to the Town of Stratford on Friday, May 10th.

“The EPA’s efforts to identify, evaluate and clean up contaminated properties in Stratford is certainly welcomed,” said Senator Kelly. “We must protect the health and safety of our children and families, and I will continue to focus my attention on cleaning up and redeveloping polluted properties to put our families back to work. While these grants are another encouraging development, we must continue to work together to build a cleaner and more promising future.”

“This plot of land will be transformed from a local eyesore into a vibrant new property, making Stratford an even more attractive town to live in,” said Senator Ayala. “The polluted sites will be completely revitalized, allowing for beautification and future development of the area.”

The two $200,000 community-wide assessment grants were awarded to the Town of Stratford to assess, clean up and redevelop contaminated properties, boost the local economy and leverage jobs while protecting public health and the environment.

“One of my top priorities has been and will continue to be the cleanup of Stratford’s brownfields and their conversion to thriving business locations and residential areas that Stratford can be proud of,” said Representative Hoydick. “These grants are an important part of our continuing effort to achieve a cleaner, safer, and economically thriving Stratford by making cleaner business and residential sites.”

“Over the past few years we have made tremendous leaps forward in turning around Stratford’s brownfields and have worked to grow flourishing businesses where they once stood,” said Representative Miller. “Our continued effort in this area is essential to improving the economic as well as physical health of Stratford, and this grant will help us get to our goals in this area.”

The grants were funded by the EPA’s Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup grant program. They were part of $12 million recently made available by the EPA to protect people’s health and lead to a cleaner environment in communities throughout New England.

According to the EPA, there are an estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated sites in the United States. On average $17.79 is leveraged for every EPA Brownfields grant dollar spent. When Brownfields are addressed, nearby property values can increase 2-3 percent.

“EPA’s Brownfields money has proven to be an important catalyst for local communities to get under-utilized properties assessed and cleaned up, and back into productive use,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA New England’s office. “This grant money will help reclaim sites containing hazardous substances, petroleum products and other abandoned industrial and commercial properties. Cleaning and revitalizing contaminated sites helps create jobs, provides a solid foundation for a community to create new businesses and neighborhood centers, and makes our environment cleaner and our communities healthier.”

For more information, please visit the EPA Brownfields and Land Revitalization website at www.epa.gov/Brownfields.