WRC Awards First Grants, Loan, Through Brownfields Cleanup Fund
Windham Regional Commission (WRC) is pleased to announce the following grants and loans from the Windham Region Brownfields Reuse Initiative- Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund (WRBRI-RLF). A total of $272,266 will be made available to Deerfield Valley Transit Association (MOOVER), Main Street Arts and Bellows Falls Historical Society to provide resources to help them with the clean up of their Brownfield properties.
Established in 2011 the WRBRI-RLF provides loans and grants to facilitate cleanup of contaminated properties (Brownfields) in the towns of the WRC’s service area. The purpose of this program is to assist in the revitalization of these properties, to promote jobs and a cleaner environment in the WRC region. It is intended that these loans and grants fill funding gaps for cleanup and ultimate redevelopment of Brownfields. Loan funds are available to public, private and nonprofits and grants are available to municipalities and nonprofits
Deerfield Valley Transit Association will use the total of $150,000 ($100,000 grant and $50,000 loan) to remediate the site and use the site for a new bus garage, offices, and maintenance facility. The final project will complete the rehabilitation of a Brownfields site, secure thirty-five local jobs, and continue to provide public transit services to 300,000 riders annually. The project also provides for public access via a recreational path that will link two existing recreational trails, and will build a red barn facility in keeping with the iconic Holstein spotted buses.
Bellows Falls Historical Society will receive $67,266 in grant funds to complete the property's redevelopment into a viable and publicly accessible greenspace. Previously the project received clean up funds directly from EPA Brownfields program. The cleanup plan specifies isolation of contaminated soil from public users via a combination of trail construction, selective soil capping, and barriers to discourage public access (dense shrubbery and fencing). The project consists of creation of a historic interpretive trail system a nature and bird sanctuary and community gathering space.
Main Street Arts (Saxtons River) will receive a $55,000 grant for the development of a corrective action plan and the remediation of the adjoining site (33 Main Street) to allow them to make their existing building handicapped accessible. The project will include building an addition that will house accessibility features including an elevator, a handicap accessible bathroom, and an exterior ramp.
For more information about WRC’s Brownfields program contact Susan McMahon (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), Cullen Meves (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or go to our website http://windhamregional.org/brownfields.
