SE Connecticut News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – At a formerly blighted and contaminated property, Rep. Courtney (CT-02) announced a $1,000,000 federal infrastructure grant coming to New London to transform other abandoned properties in New London into economic hubs.

“Economic growth in many communities across eastern Connecticut is stymied by abandoned properties contaminated from prior use. This $1 million federal investment in New London will provide the city a fighting chance to transform abandoned property into residential and business opportunities—just like the city achieved with The Beam apartments—thanks to the EPA’s Brownfield Program and Mayor Passero’s leadership,” said Rep. Courtney. “This new federal funding is an excellent example of the federal infrastructure law once again creating new opportunities in our communities.”

Rep. Courtney made the announcement at a roundtable discussion with New London Mayor Michael Passero, City officials, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The leaders made clear that this funding will unlock opportunities to help keep up with the City’s residential and business growth.

“This new funding will allow New London to transform vacant and blighted land into much needed housing, business, and community space. Reforming brownfield sites is particularly important to attract the talent necessary to support New London's burgeoning defense, offshore wind, and healthcare industries,” said New London Mayor Michael Passero. “I am grateful for Congressman Courtney’s work to secure this funding and am confident that the partnership between the City and our federal partners will have far reaching benefits for decades to come.”

The Revolving Loan Fund Grant, awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is made possible by the federal infrastructure law Rep. Courtney helped pass in November 2021. The grant will allow New London to provide five loans and up to 12 subgrants to local organizations or entities to lead cleanup efforts.

Six priority sites have been identified, with four ranked as a high priority since they are all contiguous, vacant, and underutilized prime real estate adjacent to Parade Plaza, Union Station, and the New London Waterfront Park. These include the 10,704-square-foot historic former Capitol Theater and the nationally acclaimed Garde Arts Center.

This funding is part of a larger Biden-Harris administration announcement

 that is delivering $315 million across the nation for cleanup efforts and technical assistance at polluted brownfield sites.

 “We’re working across the country to revitalize what were once dangerous and polluted sites in overburdened communities into more sustainable and environmentally just places that serve as community assets. Thanks to President Biden’s historic investments in America, we’re moving further and faster than ever before to clean up contaminated sites, spur economic redevelopment, and deliver relief that so many communities have been waiting for,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “This critical wave of investments is the largest in Brownfields history and will accelerate our work to protect the people and the planet by transforming what was once blight into might.”

To read more about the grant program, click here.

To read how the Brownfield Program helped enable The Beam apartment complex, click here.

For more images, click here.

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Transportation & InfrastructureInfrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 

Original source can be found here.