Key Players and Supporters

Who are the key players in brownfield cleanup and redevelopment?
A variety of private and public sector organizations may play a role in the course of cleaning up and redeveloping brownfield sites. Not all of these organizations will be involved at every site.

United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) USEPA is unlikely to be directly involved in the cleanup of brownfield properties,. Most cleanups are overseen by the states. However, USEPA provides cleanup and redevelopment incentives and financial support for some brownfields projects. Meriden has been fortunate to have the support of USEPA's Brownfields Program in its brownfields redevelopment program.

Role in Meriden's Brownfields Program
The USEPA's Brownfields Program

awarded the City of Meriden a grant of $200,000 in 2005. This grant was used to further test Factory H and to support a neighborhood-based reuse planning effort for the site. USEPA has also provided financial support to conduct environmental assessments at both the Factory H site and the HUB site downtown and awarded Meriden a $200,000 cleanup grant for the HUB site in 2006. This grant was used to stabilize and manage contaminants on an interim basis after the vacant, 150,000 square foot HUB building was demolished in June 2007. The City is also pleased to announce that USEPA's Brownfields Program awarded 3 additional grants to Meriden in 2007-- $200,000 for assessments targeting the Factory H site and other properties in the two neighborhood's bordering Factory H and $400,000 to help cleanup contamination at Factory H (77 Cooper Street and 104 Butler Street). In addition, in 2008 USEPA's Hazards Removal Division removed friable asbestos from the vacant and deteriorated Factory H buildings at the cost of $1.5 million.

State Environmental Agencies - CT Department of Environmental Protection- CTDEP Property owners or developers that decide to clean up brownfield sites, either for sale or reuse, may perform the cleanup under the oversight of a state environmental agency. In addition to overseeing cleanups, state environmental agencies may offer incentives such as liability protection from further cleanup.

Role in Meriden's Brownfields Program:
The CT Department of Environmental Protection

has been very supportive of Meriden's brownfields program. The agency completed a one-million dollar trust clean up of hazards at Factory H and provided Meriden with financial support to do an environmental assessment at the HUB. In addition, DEP staff attend our blight and brownfields committee meetings, public meetings and serve as technical staff support to our brownfields initiatives.

State Economic Development and Planning Agencies -CT Department of Economic and Community Development (CTDECD) and CT Development Authority
Some states provide economic incentives, such as low-interest loans, for the redevelopment of brownfield properties. These incentives may be offered through state economic development and planning offices that are interested in attracting new businesses and investors to their states, as well as guiding their state's growth.

Some states provide economic incentives, such as low-interest loans, for the redevelopment of brownfield properties. These incentives may be offered through state economic development and planning offices that are interested in attracting new businesses and investors to their states, as well as guiding their state's growth.

Role in Meriden's Brownfields Program:
CT Department of Economic and Community Development

in conjunction with CTDEP provided grant funds to clean up the former Meriden Rolling Mills site on No Colony Street. CTDECD has also provided the City with a $2 million grant which supported the City's demolition of the vacant 150,000 sq ft HUB building downtown. CTDECD has been a strong supporter of Meriden's brownfields redevelopment efforts. Without their financial assistance, Meriden would not have been able to start redevelopment of the HUB site. DECD staff also provide technical help and expertise to our brownfields program.

Local Government and Regional Economic Development Agencies:   The City of Meriden and the Regional Growth Partnership of South Central CT
Local economic development, planning and tax agencies may provide incentives for brownfield redevelopments in order to attract investors and businesses to their communities, guide growth, and increase jobs. Local health agencies may have an interest in ensuring that contaminants on brownfield properties do not pose a threat to community health.

Role in Meriden's Brownfields Program:
The City of Meriden

provides staff support to our Brownfields Program, is contributing funds to clean up the HUB site and do flood control work throughout the city. The City's Economic Development Office manages the various brownfields grants the City has received from state and federal agencies and staffs the Blight and Brownfields Committee.

The Regional Growth Partnership of South Central Connecticut

offers loans to private property owners to do assessments and to clean up contaminated sites. These programs are funded by CTDECD and USEPA. The RGP has provided an assessment loans to one private site in Meriden and gave the City a grant to do initial testing of the HUB building for hazardous materials. RGP also administers an EPA Revolving Loan Fund for the cleanup of contaminated sites. A $500,000 loan was provided to the owners of 290 Pratt Street to begin implementation of cleanup plans.

Other Players in Brownfields Redevelopment

Commercial Lenders: An increasing number of commercial lenders are willing to provide loans to support the cleanup and redevelopment of brownfields.
Technical Consultants: Technical consultants can help design and implement the investigation and cleanup of environmental contamination on brownfields. Technical consultants may also help property owners or developers work with state regulatory agencies and communities surrounding the property.
Legal Counsel: Lawyers can assist in many aspects of the cleanup, redevelopment, and sale of brownfields by advising all interested parties, from owners and developers to neighbors and community members, about regulatory requirements, negotiating with regulators and prospective buyers, drafting sales agreements, and communicating with the other people interested in the project.
Citizens and Community Groups: State and federal cleanup programs may require public involvement such as opportunity for notice and comment from the public. Furthermore, some economic incentives, such as grants and loans, may not be available unless supported by the surrounding community. Even when not required, support for the project from communities surrounding brownfields may be needed for it to be successful over the long term.
Developers: Developers typically manage the entire process of cleaning up and adapting properties for new uses, but they may limit their involvement to determining and implementing marketable reuses of brownfields.
Brownfield Developers and Investors: A new group of firms specializing in cleaning up and reusing brownfields has emerged in recent years. These firms rely on a mix of engineering, legal and real estate technical and financial backing and expertise.
Real Estate Professionals: Real estate professionals can provide advice on the market for a particular property and can help locate buyers or developers.

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