This award marks the second assessment grant SRPC has received from the EPA. With its initial award SRPC has operated a Brownfields program since 2015, providing over $362,000 in contracted environmental assessments and technical assistance to our communities (over 90% of grant funds), with remaining 10% covering costs for administering the program and SRPC staff time for outreach, advisory committee meetings, and technical assistance. SRPC partnered with environmental consultant Credere Associates, chosen through an RFP process, to assess or complete planning activities at 10 sites throughout the region. Some of the sites assessed through SRPC's program, the Hilltop School and old police station in Somersworth, are currently being renovated with private funds or actively marketed.
Other sites in the SRPC region received cleanup funding during this time, which SRPC promoted by writing letters of support for each application. Both Breton Cleaners in Somersworth and Advanced Recycling in Rochester received cleanup subgrants from the state brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF); additionally, Breton Cleaners received a cleanup grant from the EPA.
With the continued funding from the latest EPA grant round, SRPC staffers will work with downtown Rochester as a focus area. The City was identified during the grant submission due to many factors such as the momentum the City has generated through various planning initiatives and the City's two opportunity zones that improve the potential for cleanup and redevelopment.
While Rochester has been identified as a focus area, sites in all 18 SRPC communities will be considered for assessments. Community officials or property owners interested in adding a property to SRPC's Brownfields inventory should reach out to project manager, James Burdin at [email protected]. SRPC will also be seeking volunteers to serve or continue to serve on its Brownfields Advisory Committee.
SRPC looks forward to working with the City of Rochester and community leaders to identify and prioritize sites for assessment, as well as assessing other sites identified in the region. SRPC is proud to honor the region and its communities longstanding history and is excited to provide a resource for preserving that history while mitigating any impacts to our natural resources and ensuring the productive future use of properties in the region.
