PEABODY — Six communities in Massachusetts, one of them Peabody, have received grants to access and clean up contaminated properties under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields Program.
The grants total $2.7 million, of which Peabody will receive $300,000, according to Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass. The funds will help underserved and economically disadvantaged communities around the state in assessing and cleaning up abandoned industrial and commercial properties.
Under President Trump’s administration, the EPA has delivered approximately $287 million in Brownfield grants directly to communities and nonprofits for cleanup and redevelopment, job creation, and economic development through the award of over 948 grants.
“COVID-19 has impacted the economy and redevelopment in every corner of this New England,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator Dennis Deziel. “Today’s investment … provides a much-needed boost for economic development and job creation in many of New England’s hardest hit and underserved communities.”
Moulton said the grant will help the city conduct environmental site assessments along the North River Corridor.
“Peabody is going to put these funds to great use, turning polluted land into places that bring in new businesses and jobs,” Moulton said. “There’s a long line of communities competing for this money. The EPA’s selection of Peabody is a testament to the team effort we marshaled with state and local officials to get these projects rolling.”
The city will also be able to conduct environmental site assessments, develop cleanup plans, and support reuse planning and community outreach activities for various other sites as well, which are to be selected throughout the grant to develop an area-wide plan.
The North River Corridor consists of a two-block area in downtown Peabody along the North River and includes six priority sites, all of which are located within Qualified Opportunity Zones.
“The need for these Brownfield funds has never been greater and we are very pleased that the EPA has supported our efforts toward revitalizing the North River corridor,” said Peabody Mayor Edward Bettencourt, Jr. “These EPA funds build upon the City’s momentum to leverage critically needed funding to improve resilience against flooding in the downtown, address site contamination from historic use as a tannery district, and the creation of the Riverwalk.
“The future Riverwalk will transform the character of the downtown community and spur economic opportunities within the Corridor,” Bettencourt said.
“Brownfield cleanups play a critical role in revitalizing our communities, making our environment healthier and safer for families, and opening up new opportunities for economic growth,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. “I’m glad that Massachusetts has received these federal grants, which will help spur important cleanup efforts in communities all across the Commonwealth.”
“These EPA Brownfields Grants will go a long way towards cleaning up the decades of abuse sustained by Massachusetts land. Cleaning up brownfield sites is a win-win for Massachusetts, helping to create jobs and spur economic activity while revitalizing underutilized lands,” said Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass).
