Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is awarding $254.5 million in Brownfields Grants to 265 communities, including Newburgh. The grants are supported by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides a total of $1.5 billion to advance environmental justice, spur economic revitalization, and create jobs by cleaning up contaminated, polluted, or hazardous brownfield properties.
Locally, Safe Harbors of the Hudson will receive a $500,000 assessment grant.
“I believe in Newburgh, and projects like this are central to revitalizing the community and bringing new life to old buildings downtown,” said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney. “As one of the authors of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, I am thrilled to see this money being put to good use here in the Hudson Valley. This grant to Safe Harbors will allow them to continue their important work rebuilding and revitalizing spaces across Newburgh.”
Brownfield projects can range from cleaning up buildings with asbestos or lead contamination, to assessing and cleaning up abandoned properties that once managed dangerous chemicals. Once cleaned up, former brownfield properties can be redeveloped into productive uses such as grocery stores, affordable housing, health centers, museums, parks, and solar farms.
Lisa Silverstone, Safe Harbors of the Hudson Executive Director, said: “Safe Harbors of the Hudson, an affordable housing and arts redevelopment in the City of Newburgh, NY, is thrilled to have received the Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfield Community-Wide Assessment grant. We look forward to working with the City and the Mayor’s Strategic Economic Development Advisory Committee on this critical work, which will pave the way for healthy, redevelopment and revitalization in our community.”
The Brownfields Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver at least 40 percent of the benefits of certain government programs to disadvantaged communities.
Approximately 86 percent of the communities selected to receive funding as part of today’s announcement have proposed projects in historically underserved areas.
“With today’s announcement, we’re turning blight into might for communities across America,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “EPA’s Brownfields Program breathes new life into communities by helping to turn contaminated and potentially dangerous sites into productive economic contributors. Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are significantly ramping up our investments in communities, with the bulk of our funding going to places that have been overburdened and underserved for far too long.”
“The Brownfields program is a powerful tool that helps overburdened communities in New York address local inequities by providing a means to revitalize properties and promote environmental health, economic growth, and job creation,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “The Brownfields program transforms communities, and BIL gives the program a huge shot in the arm – with a historic $1.5 billion dollars that will be leveraged to make a real and lasting on-the-ground difference for communities across the country.”