Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) announced today that a total of $6 million in federal brownfields funding has been awarded for the assessment and cleanup of 14 sites in Maine, more funding than any other state in the country this year.  The federal grants awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will assist local communities as they work to redevelop these contaminated sites in order to improve the environment and promote future economic development.

“The Brownfields Program has proven to be a major benefit to the overall health and vitality of Maine communities,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “In addition to cleaning up hazardous substances and improving our environment, this investment will help communities create new economic development opportunities to attract businesses that create good jobs for Mainers, particularly in rural areas.”

The January 2017 assessment from the Economic Development Assessment Team (EDAT) – originally requested in March 2016 by Senators Collins and King – highlighted the importance of the Brownfields Program and its potential to leverage federal resources to redevelop former industrial sites, support the viability of impacted mill communities, and help to grow Maine’s rural economy.

The funding is allocated as follows:

·       Belfast, ME: $300,000

·       Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine, Portland, ME: $500,000

·       Lewiston, ME: $500,000

·       Lincoln, ME: $300,000

·       Lincoln Paper and Tissue, Lincoln, ME: $350,000

·       Maine Port Authority, Portland, ME: $500,000

·       Marble Block Redevelopment Corporation, Biddeford, ME: $500,000

·       Old Town, ME: $300,000

·       Portland Housing Authority, ME: $500,000

·       Sanford, ME: $800,000

·       South Portland Housing Development Corporation, ME: $500,000

·       South Portland, ME: $300,000

·       Washington County Council of Governments, Machias, Lubec and Eastport, ME: $300,000

·       Waterfall Arts, Belfast, ME: $350,000

A brownfield site is a property that contains a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant that can hinder the potential to reuse or redevelop the site. The EPA's Brownfields Program assists states and local communities as they assess, safely clean up, and reuse brownfield sites for economic development projects.