Brownfields 2007 Grant Fact Sheet

Sprague, CT

EPA BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM

EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. On January 11, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under the Brownfields Law, EPA provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through four competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism.

CLEANUP GRANT

$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the Town of Sprague for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up the Baltic Mills Complex site at 29 Bushnell Hollow Road. This approximately 16-acre site housed one of the largest woolen mills of its time. A fire in 1999 destroyed all but one on-site building. The site is contaminated with heavy metals and other hazardous substances. Grant funds also will be used to provide technical oversight throughout the cleanup process.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The Town of Sprague was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Located in southeastern Connecticut, Sprague (population 2,971) is a rural community that includes the Villages of Baltic, Hanover, and Versailles. It covers a combined 13.8-square-mile area. The decline in the area's mill industries has severely impacted the local economy and population. The majority of Sprague residents are underemployed, working at low-paying or part-time jobs. The limited number of local businesses and industries provide a small tax base. Cleanup of the targeted Baltic Mills Complex site will remove potential health hazards and demonstrate the town's commitment to revitalization. The town plans to renovate and reuse the site's remaining four-story 56,000-square-foot building as the cornerstone of a revitalized Mill complex. Brownfields redevelopment at the Baltic Mill is expected to provide Sprague with an estimated $200,000 in additional tax revenues, revitalize area businesses, and create jobs for community residents.

CONTACTS

For further information, including specific grant contacts, additional grant information, brownfields news and events, and publications and links, visit the EPA Brownfields web site at: www.epa.gov/brownfields.

EPA Region 1 Brownfields Team
617-918-1424
http://www.epa.gov/region01/brownfields/

Grant Recipient: Town of Sprague, CT
860-822-3000

The information presented in this fact sheet comes from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. The cooperative agreement for the grant has not yet been negotiated. Therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change.