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East Hartford Awarded $200,000 in Brownfield Grants

Posted on: June 1, 2015 - 9:50am

(May 29, 2015) East Hartford, CT – Mayor Marcia A. Leclerc announced today that the Town of East Hartford has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the assessment of environmentally-compromised properties (known as Brownfields) in the Town of East Hartford.

Mayor Marcia A. Leclerc said today that this money will help revitalize economic development and the community as a whole.

“East Hartford is proud to receive this money and will use these funds to revamp former commercial sites and bring revitalization and strengthen economic development,” Mayor Leclerc said.

EPA's Brownfields grants help jumpstart the redevelopment of vacant, former manufacturing and commercial sites for broader revitalization in their downtowns. This results in a transformed economy and environment while addressing poverty and economic distress.

"Brownfield sites - because of their locations and associated infrastructure advantages - are community assets and a key component of the Obama Administration’s efforts to provide tools to sustainably revitalize communities and foster economic development,” said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. “These communities have demonstrated a plan to leverage their grants and partnerships to achieve economic and environmental revitalization to meet their needs for jobs.

East Hartford is one of 147 communities across the U.S. to share $54.3 million in EPA investment.  Four Connecticut communities are receiving a total of $1 million in funding from the nationally competitive 2015 federal grant program.  Mayor Leclerc said the Town is currently identifying potential target properties that will be the focus of the grant funding.

“We are in the process of targeting key areas in town that will be in the best interest of the future of East Hartford,” Mayor Leclerc said. “Anything that will help bring our development to the next level will be key in our selections.”