WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that a total of $33 million in federal brownfields funding has been awarded for the assessment and cleanup for 13 sites in Maine. The federal grants, awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will assist local communities as they work to redevelop these contaminated sites to improve and promote future economic development.

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.

“The Brownfields Program has proven to be a major benefit to the overall health of Maine communities,” said Senator Collins. “In addition to cleaning up hazardous substances and improving our environment, these investments will help communities create new development opportunities to attract businesses, provide good housing, and create good jobs for Mainers.

“The Brownfields Program has been critical to Maine, helping local communities promote redevelopment efforts and drive economic growth,” Senator King said. “With the assistance of this program, we have seen communities throughout the state successfully convert previously unusable liabilities into productive assets – particularly in rural Maine. In addition to cleaning up hazardous substances and improving our environment, this investment will help Maine communities create new economic development opportunities to attract businesses that create good jobs for Maine people. This funding will build on past successes and help these communities move forward into the future.”

The funding is allocated as follows:

1. Caleb Foundation, Oxford - $500,000
2. Eastern Maine Development Corporation - $3,000,000
3. Kennebec Valley Council of Governments - $500,000
4. Lincoln, ME - $5,000,000
5. Maine Department of Economic Community Development - $3,500,000
6. Our Katahdin - $5,000,000
7. Piscataquis County Economic Development Council - $1,000,000
8. Portland Housing Development Corporation - $1,000,000
9. Sanford, ME - $5,500,000
10. Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission - $500,000
11. RLF Supplemental Grant - $3,500,000
12. Westbrook, ME - $4,000,000

Senators Collins and King have been longtime advocates of the Brownfields Program. They previously announced $24.2 million and $1.5 million to cleanup Brownfields and revitalize communities across Maine. This latest round of funding was supported by the bipartisan Infrastructure law, cosponsored by both Collins and King, which included a $1.5 billion boost for the Brownfields program.

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