Program History and Successes

The SMPDC’s Brownfield Redevelopment Program started in 2004 with an assessment grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through their Brownfield and Land Revitalization Program. This grant formed the foundation of our program to address Brownfield sites with potential hazardous waste contamination. Two additional grants provided funding to expand on our initial efforts: a Brownfield Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Grant to provided funding for environmental cleanups and a Petroleum Assessment Grant that provides funding to address sites with potential petroleum-related contamination. Brownfield Redevelopment Program activities are detailed below by grant.

 

Original Brownfield Hazardous Substance Assessment Grant

SMPDC began our Brownfield Redevelopment Program in 2004 as a Brownfield Assessment grantee with a grant of $200,000. The main focus of the grant was to create an inventory of potential Brownfields sites in the region, set priorities as to which sites needed to be assessed and to create a greater awareness of the benefits of the Brownfield Program throughout the region.


This original grant was supplemented in 2006 and 2008 with an additional $400,000, which was used to conduct Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments (ESAs) and redevelopment planning. Most recently, SMPDC received $200,000 in hazardous substance assessment funds from EPA 2013 and is currently identifying and enrolling sites in the SPDC Brownfields Redevelopment Program.

 

South Berwick: Public Library

 

 

Brownfield Petroleum Assessment Grant

In 2004, USEPA opened up the Brownfield grant opportunities to include sites with petroleum-related contamination, previously excluded from receiving Brownfield funding. SMPDC was awarded a $200,000 grant in 2006 to expand our assessment program to include sites with potential petroleum-related contamination.



This original grant was supplemented in 2008 with an additional $200,000, which was used to conduct Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments (ESAs) and redevelopment planning. Most recently, SMPDC received $200,000 in petroleum assessment funds from EPA in 2013 and is currently identifying and enrolling sites in the SPDC Brownfields Redevelopment Program.

 

Kennebunk: Gas Station to Community Ice Rink

 

Brownfield Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Grant (BCRLF)


In 2007 and 2009, EPA awarded SMPDC with two $1,000,000 Brownfield Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund (BCRLF) grants. This funding provides low-interest loans and/or grant to municipalities, for-profit and non-profit entities for the environmental cleanup of Brownfield sites. When the loans are repaid, the funds are then made available for additional cleanup loans and Brownfield-related activities, maximizing the impact of the initial grant. Today, SMPDC’s Brownfields Revolving Loan funds totals 4,350,000 from the receipt of two BCRLF and five Supplemental BCRLF grants.

Biddeford: North Dam Mill

 

 

 

Program Successes

There have been a wide variety of successful projects that have been funded by the SMPDC BCRLF. These range from the redevelopment of large underutilized mill buildings into mixed use commercial and residential facilities to the conversion of a former church building into a public library. Below are links to success stories highlighting these projects.