EPA Announces $650,000 Grant to Assess and Clean up Communities in Camden, NJ
NEW YORK - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the Camden Redevelopment Agency in New Jersey has been selected to receive $650,000 in Brownfields funding to assess, clean up, and revitalize local lands. These investments support locally driven redevelopment, unlocking economic opportunity, creating jobs, and improving public health outcomes in communities in New Jersey. These will keep critical momentum going in communities already benefiting from Brownfields investments, ensuring continued progress toward safe and reusable land.
"In Camden NJ, our commitment to brownfield redevelopment not only cleans up our environment but also revitalizes local neighborhoods, instilling pride among residents,” said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. “By transforming these spaces, we create economic opportunities and foster community resilience."
The Camden Redevelopment Agency in New Jersey has been selected to receive $650,000 for its Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) program. This funding is provided in addition to the $5,324,999 already awarded and recognizes the RLF program's high performance despite significantly depleted funds.
Camden’s RLF program has successfully facilitated loans or subgrants for 11 cleanup projects that are either completed or in progress. Notable projects for the use of the new funding include Elijah Perry Park, the Knox Gelatin property, Judge Johnson Park, and the former West Jersey Paper Manufacturing site.
"This funding will allow the Camden Redevelopment Agency to continue its vital efforts to assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse land that has long suffered from the effects of harmful environmental contaminants,” said Senator Cory Booker. “I look forward to continuing to partner with the EPA and local organizations to ensure we continue to fund brownfield development that converts land from liabilities into productive local assets."
“Because of these funds, kids will have cleaner parks and outdoor spaces to play, and those who live in Camden will be able to have a better quality of life overall,” said Senator Andy Kim. “These hazardous chemicals have been polluting Camden County for far too long, and I’ll be tracking the progress of these clean ups to be certain these communities see their completion.”
"I voted to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to create jobs, bolster public health outcomes, and improve the quality of life for residents in South Jersey," said U.S. Representative Donald Norcross (NJ-01). "Brownfield Grants have been transformational across our region and especially in Camden City. Protecting our communities from harmful waste and repurposing these sites into valuable community assets for our neighborhoods has been a top priority for me. In Congress, I will continue to fight alongside local organizations to ensure the health and safety of South Jersey families."
Brownfields grants are a powerful catalyst for local economic growth. Communities in New Jersey have used previous EPA grants to assess, cleanup, and attract new development. Nationally, Brownfields funding delivers proven results:
13.9 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfield Grant funds spent
$20.45 for each $1 of EPA Brownfields funding expended on assessment, cleanup, and revolving loan fund grants.
Property values near cleaned-up sites increase by 5-15.2% with an estimated gain of $500,000 to $1.5 million in total property values
Increase of $29-97 million in local tax revenue in just the first year post-cleanup, per a study done in 2017.
EPA’s Brownfields Program helps transform underutilized and blighted properties into community assets – empowering neighborhoods, protecting health, and sparking lasting economic change.
Learn more about EPA’s Brownfields and Land Revitalization grant opportunities.
Background
EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.6 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. To date, brownfields investments leveraged more than $34 billion in cleanup and redevelopment.
Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding was able to leverage, from both public and private sources, more than 175,500 jobs.
List of the FY 2025 Applicants Selected for Funding: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applications-selected-fy-2025-brownfields-assessment-revolving-loan-fund-rlf-cleanup
For more on the Brownfields Grants: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding. For more on EPA’s Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields
EPA anticipates that it will make these awards once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied by selected recipients.
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