EPA Announces $7 Million in Brownfields Grants to Cleanup Communities Across Connecticut
BOSTON (May 16, 2025) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of nearly $7 million in Brownfields Grants to communities across Connecticut. These grants—which include Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants—put the agency's commitment to protect human health and the environment into action while remaining good stewards of tax dollars and advancing policies to energize the economy.
Brownfields Assessment Grants in Connecticut include:
- $3.2 million for two selectees for Assessment Grants, which will provide funding for brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments, and community outreach.
Brownfields Supplemental Revolving Loan Fund Grants in Connecticut include:
- $3.75 million for three high-performing recipients to help communities continue their work to carry out cleanup and redevelopment projects on contaminated Brownfields sites. Supplemental funding for Revolving Loan Fund Grants is available to recipients that have depleted their funds and have viable cleanup projects ready for work.
"Today's Brownfields announcement reflects EPA's commitment to clean air, land, and water for every American. From rural towns to urban centers, we are helping communities across New England clean up contaminated sites and unlock new opportunities for economic growth and revitalization," said EPA Regional Administrator Mark Sanborn. "Through partnerships with states, local governments, and the private sector, we're returning blighted properties to productive use—and showing that a clean environment and economic development can go hand in hand."
"This $7 million in federal funding will help revitalize Connecticut's communities, transforming hazardous sites into opportunities. Brownfields threaten our environment and hamper local economic development efforts, but this substantial investment will make an invaluable impact in cleaning up the mistakes of the past and building a more sustainable future," said U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal.
"Connecticut has made meaningful progress in transforming former industrial sites into vibrant, productive spaces that benefit our residents, environment, and economy," said U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro. "These EPA Brownfields Grants not only safeguard the environment, but will continue to drive investment, job creation, and economic resilience in our communities."
"Brownfields funding has supported the revitalization of former industrial areas and the cleanup of contaminated sites across our state for three decades, historically with strong, bipartisan support," said U.S. Representative John B. Larson. "Our entire delegation has worked together to ensure these investments continue, boosting funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and writing to the Trump Administration in support of Connecticut's brownfield remediation sites. I'm pleased to join with my colleagues and the Environmental Protection Agency today to announce continued investments we secured together through this program for environmental cleanup and economic revitalization, including at sites in Hartford and Torrington. I remain committed to working with the Administration to create good-paying jobs in our region and protect the health and safety of our residents."
"Great to see another round of federal dollars—which were funded by Congress last year—coming back to Connecticut to assess and clean up abandoned and blighted properties. Approval of these hard -won grants is a true testament to our communities' eagle eye focus on securing funds to support economic and community development," said U.S. Representative Joe Courtney. "There's no question that the federal infrastructure law is turbocharging these investments to transform polluted land to economic hubs. This new round of funding brings the total investment for brownfield grants in CT-02 to well-over $10 million through the federal infrastructure law in just three years."
"The $7 million in Brownfield Grants Connecticut will receive this year will significantly aid our state's efforts to remediate contaminated properties and former industrial sites to restore them to land once again suitable for use," said U.S. Representative Jim Himes. "I'm especially excited that the City of Bridgeport will receive an additional $1 million to continue cleaning up properties around the city and I look forward to visiting the rehabilitated land once the projects are completed."
"People in Connecticut deserve to live in a clean and safe environment. The deterioration of industrial sites and the prevalence of distressed properties inflict the greatest hardship on children and families in surrounding communities. These areas face significant barriers to economic progress and an elevated risk of long-term health problems. This funding will provide crucial support for the Naugatuck Valley and Greater Hartford regions, aiding remediation efforts and helping to transform them into centers of opportunity," said U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes.
"DEEP congratulates the Capitol Region, Metropolitan, Naugatuck Valley, and Southeastern Councils of Governments on earning EPA brownfield grants. We are also proud to receive a $2 million Community-Wide Assessment Grant for Connecticut," said Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection Commissioner, Katie Dykes. "This funding will promote the cleanup of contaminated sites, turning long-abandoned properties into community assets that support public health, environmental safety, and economic development. It's a win for cleaner neighborhoods, stronger local economies, and a more affordable, vibrant future."
"The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (SECOG) is thrilled to receive this $1.2 million EPA Brownfield Assessments Coalition Grant, which will allow SECOG to address potential contaminated properties in our region," said Amanda Kennedy, SECOG Executive Director. "This funding is not just an investment in environmental assessment at brownfield properties – it's an investment in the region's economy, giving local communities a voice in shaping the future of these sites. We're proud to partner with the Eastern Connecticut Land Bank and the Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development District as we work collaboratively with SECOG communities to turn these underutilized properties into assets for their communities."
The selected applicants in Connecticut are:
- Capital Region Council of Governments has been selected to receive $750,000 in supplemental funding for their Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund program, in addition to the $2,450,000 in EPA funds already awarded. The council's RLF program has successfully made loans or subgrants leading to three cleanup projects that are either completed or in progress. Projects projected for use of the new funding include a Data Center in Hartford and the Collinsville Axe Factory in Canton.
- Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has been selected to receive $2,000,000 for a Brownfields Community-wide Assessment Grant for States and Tribes. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct approximately twelve Phase 1 and six Phase 2 environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to develop cleanup plans, redevelopment plans, and support community engagement activities. The target areas for this grant include the Cities of New London and Norwich, and the Towns of Plainfield and Sprague. Priority sites include a 418-acre abandoned paper mill, a former textile mill, a former dry cleaners, and a 44-acre former manufacturing facility.
- Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments has been selected to receive $1,000,000 in supplemental funding for their Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund program, in addition to the $6,045,921 in EPA funds already awarded. The council's RLF program has successfully made loans or subgrants leading to eight cleanup projects that are either completed or in progress. Projects projected for use of the new funding include two sites in Bridgeport: the Connecticut Sports Group property and the Davidson Block.
- Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments has been selected to receive $2,000,000 in supplemental funding for their Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund program, in addition to the $15,757,850 in EPA funds already awarded. The council's RLF program has successfully made loans or subgrants leading to 28 cleanup projects that are either completed or in progress. Projects projected for use of the new funding include two sites in Ansonia: the Excelsior Plant and the Torrington and E. Farrel Corporation property.
- Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments has been selected to receive $1,200,000 to lead a Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant. Grant funds will be used to conduct approximately eight Phase 1 and eight Phase 2 environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to develop site cleanup and reuse plans, and to support site reuse and community engagement activities. Assessment activities will focus on the Towns of Sprague, Windham, and Preston. Priority sites include an 8.6-acre former manufacturing facility, a 16-acre former industrial site, and three abandoned mill complexes ranging from 12 to 420 acres. Coalition members include the Town of Windham and the Town of Sprague.
View the full list of selected applicants here. Federal grant recipients must satisfy legal and administrative requirements to receive funds from EPA.
Background
EPA's Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.9 billion in Brownfields Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. In New England alone, these investments have revitalized hundreds of sites, created jobs, and improved the quality of life in communities.
Nationally, EPA's Brownfields investments have leveraged to date more than $42 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 220,500 jobs.
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
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