SRDC wins grant to continue Bryant Grinder cleanup

S pringfield Regional Development Corp. has been selected to receive a $200,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. The grant will fund ongoing environmental cleanup work at the former Bryant Grinder facility on Clinton Street in Springfield.

SRDC is one of 243 recipients nationwide to receive funds to assist with the remediation and redevelopment of brownfield properties. The EPA announced grants totaling $54.3 million for projects in 147 communities across the country.

Bob Flint, executive director of SRDC, said that the timing of the grant was very fortuitous. “We’re already moving forward with the development of a corrective action plan for the north and south ends of the … building and this will allow us to move directly into cleanup work later this year,” Flint said. He added that SRDC hopes to have those portions of the site available for occupancy within 14 months.

According to the EPA’s  grant fact sheet,“The 16.2 acre site was home to a metal machining equipment manufacturer and a concrete casting company from 1909 to 2005, and has been vacant since then. Site contamination includes volatile organic compounds, PCBs, metals, and inorganic contaminants.”

“Slowly, but surely, we’re making progress with these large, complicated, brownfield projects,” said Flint.  “We are very grateful for this grant and this will be a big part of moving Bryants forward.” Flint also thanked Dan Potter, of the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission, who assisted in preparing the application for the grant.

SRDC serves the 10 towns in Southern Windsor County.  To learn more about SDRC call 802-885-3061 or email bobf@springfielddevelopment.org.