PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Department of Environmental Management announced a $2.6 million round of funding allocation from the 2016 Green Economy Bond in brownfield grants to projects across six municipalities Tuesday.
The projects are in Cranston, Newport, Pawtucket, Providence, Smithfield and South Kingstown. The grants range from $50,000 to $400,000. In all, 13 grants are being awarded to 12 projects.
Eleven of the brownfield grant award projects will create an estimated 598 construction jobs and 269 permanent jobs. The 12th project receiving funding is the remediation and redevelopment of the Newport Grand property. The project is expected to create 1,241 construction jobs and 565 permanent jobs.
This round of funding is the remaining balance of the 2016 Green Economy Bond, the DEM said.
“When we’re able to clean up brownfields while also increasing our commitment to renewable energy, that’s progress we can all be proud of. Cleaning up contaminated brownfields sites is one of the smartest investments government can make,” said Gov. Gina M. Raimondo in a statement. “I’m committed to funding these projects quickly, and I look forward to the success stories that this latest round of funding will set into motion.”
The grants are as follows:
- The former Cranston Police Station, Cranston – $400,000 for remediation and redevelopment to a retail center. The site was a former waste dumping area.
- Gravely Hill Road Solar Array, South Kingstown – $56,000 for site preparation and assessment and $250,000 for remediation and redevelopment to a 3,200-kilowatt solar farm.
- Coffey’s Texaco, Newport – $250,000 for remediation and redevelopment of a gas station that will be turned into a public park.
- Fountain Street Apartments, Providence – $250,000 for remediation and redevelopment to an apartment building with a “green roof” at the former site of the Coffee King.
- Gotham Greens Providence LLC, Providence – $250,000 for remediation and redevelopment to a commercial greenhouse.
- Newport Grand Phase I, Newport – $250,000 for remediation and redevelopment. The DEM said the environmental remediation will be significant and the site has to be made marketable to prevent blight and disrepair.
- Tallman/Shri, Pawtucket – $250,000 for remediation and redevelopment of a mill for an intended subdivision and the sale of one building to a yoga studio.
- Blackstone Pawtucket LLC, Pawtucket – $198,317 for remediation and redevelopment of a former textile-manufacturing building into a mixed-use commercial-residential complex with solar arrays.
- Georgiaville Village Green, Smithfield – $150,000 for redevelopment of the Narragansett Gray Iron Foundry into affordable housing with rooftop solar installation.
- The Steel Yard, Providence – $150,000 for remediation and redevelopment, specifically to help the nonprofit build on prior remediation, upgrade facilities and expand offerings.
- Pilgrim Screw, Providence – $100,000 for site preparation and remediation of a 30,000-square-foot former screw factory into mixed-use commercial-residential reuse.
- What Cheer Flower Farm, Providence – $50,000 for site preparation for the nonprofit’s “build-out” campaign that is converting an abandoned factory into an urban farm and job-training center.
