Congresswoman Kathy Hochul Announces $400,000 In Funding for Niagara County Assessment and Redevelopment

Press Release

Congresswoman Kathy Hochul today announced that Niagara County will receive a $400,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for contamination assessment and redevelopment at 28 various brownfield locations throughout the county.

"The EPA is stepping up today by helping Lockport and Niagara County assess these hazardous sites that endanger our citizens and our economy," said Congresswoman Hochul. "This grant will help spur economic recovery in Niagara County by redeveloping this unused land, helping create much needed jobs in the area."

"EPA is continuing to assist Lockport and Niagara County turn contaminated sites into useful properties that will help clean up the legacy of pollution, redevelop neighborhoods and create jobs," said Regional Administrator Judith Enck. "With this grant, Niagara County will help revitalize areas like downtown Lockport, leading to economic growth, and cleaner, healthier communities."

There are currently an estimated 450,000 contaminated brownfield sites in the country, where the land is not able to be used due to the presence of hazardous substances and petroleum contamination. Niagara County is home to a large number of brownfields due to its long industrial legacy.

With today's grant, Niagara County will have received a total of $3.25 million in brownfields grant funding. Half of the $400,000 will be used for assessing sites contaminated with hazardous substances and half will be use to assess locations contaminated by petroleum.

Congress passed the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act in 2002 to allow the EPA to provide local communities individual grants -- like the one Niagara County received today -- under four programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants.

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