$3.7M awarded in matching grants to clean brownfields sites in R.I.

THE SOUTH STREET LANDING PROJECT in Providence is one of 14 in the state that have received grants from the new Brownfields Remediation and Economic Development Fund to facilitate development of contaminated sites in the state.  / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
THE SOUTH STREET LANDING PROJECT in Providence is one of 14 in the state that have received grants from the new Brownfields Remediation and Economic Development Fund to facilitate development of contaminated sites in the state. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

(Updated, 10:55 a.m.)
PROVIDENCE – Fourteen projects received a total of $3.7 million in matching grants under the new Brownfields Remediation and Economic Development Fund, the governor’s office and R.I. Department of Environmental Management announced Wednesday.
The projects will focus on cleaning up contaminated property, while promoting redevelopment, particularly along the state’s urban corridor.
The projects are expected to support more than 2,700 jobs, according to a news release, based on estimates provided by the grant applicants. The expectation is that 1,993 construction jobs and 747 permanent jobs will be created thanks to the roughly $417 million of private investment that will be made in conjunction with the $3.7 million granted for brownfields remediation.

“Redeveloping brownfields is a win all around for Rhode Island,” Gov. Gina M. Raimondo said in a statement. “We’re cleaning up blighted properties, creating jobs, opening up valuable real estate and promoting public health. These projects are seeds that will bear fruit for our economy and environment for years to come, and they are good examples of how we can work together to rebuild Rhode Island and accelerate economic growth.”

Expansion, redevelopment or reuse of brownfields may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of environmental contamination. The grant program will provide critical resources to facilitate the return of these sites to productive use, the news release said.

Said DEM Director Janet L. Coit, “Decades of effort have gone into improving the health of our lands and waters, and we’ve made significant progress. Cleaning up these former industrial sites is yet another critical step forward in safeguarding these precious resources and ensuring Rhode Island remains a wonderful place to visit, live and raise a family.”

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Grants for both site preparation and redevelopment projects will be issued to municipalities, nonprofit organizations and private entities throughout the state. Five site preparation grants, ranging in value from $23,760 to $100,000, are being awarded.
Site preparation grant recipients include:

  • City of Pawtucket – $100,000; 45 Division St./School Street
  • Evolution Mill – $23,760; 65 Manchester St., West Warwick
  • City of Pawtucket – Town Landing – $80,000; Taft Street
  • Bay Spring Realty – $34,426; 90 Bay Spring Ave., Barrington
  • Lippitt Mill – $40,000, 825 Main St., West Warwick

In addition, nine redevelopment grants, which fund remediation as well as redevelopment, are being awarded to sites with an approved clean-up plan; they range in value from $150,000 to $712,000. Redevelopment grant recipients include:

  • South Street Landing – $496,650; 350 Eddy St., 11 and 15 Point St., and 342 Eddy St., Providence
  • Blackstone Pawtucket – $295,456; 59, 65, 70 Blackstone Ave., Pawtucket
  • Bristol Industrial Park – $427,737; 500 Wood St., Bristol
  • Parcel 12 – $175,036; 5 Exchange St., Providence
  • Ronald McDonald House – $150,000; 152 Dudley St., Providence
  • East Pointe (Ocean State Steel) – $240,000; 300 Bourne Ave., East Providence
  • ONE New Builders/Paragon Mills – $425,000; 31-39 Manton Ave., Providence
  • Phillipsdale – $500,000; 310 Bourne Ave., East Providence
  • Westerly Higher Education and Job Skills Center- $712,000, 17 Canal St., Westerly

DEM said it plans an additional request for proposals next year and will continue to work to expand efforts to invest in underutilized sites across the state and ready them for reuse.

Estimates state that Rhode Island has between 10,000 to 12,000 brownfields sites.

Rhode Island voters approved creation of the Brownfields Remediation and Economic Development Fund with the passage of the 2014 Clean Water, Open Space and Healthy Communities Bond.

Grant funding covers up to 80 percent of a project’s cost; a 20 percent match is required.

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