Stafford Old School Building Project Getting Fed Brownfield Grant

STAFFORD, CT — U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) Monday announced that Stafford is getting an infrastructure grant award through the Environmental Protection Agency's Brownfield Cleanup and Assessment Grants program to help fix an aging former school building.

Courtney said the local "investment" was made possible by the new Infrastructure Law, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 1319), which Courtney voted to pass in October 2021. The Infrastructure Law has made available $1.5 billion over five years to help turn eligible brownfield sites across the U.S. into "hubs of economic growth and job creation."

Stafford will be receiving $650,000 to clean up to clean up the old school building at 20 Hyde Park Road in Stafford.

"The Town of Stafford is grateful for this transformative funding and our ongoing partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency and Region 1—this Brownfields Cleanup Grant promises so much for the long-vacant Earl M. Witt Intermediate School," said Amber Wakley-Whaley, the grants and marketing specialist for the town of Stafford. "We're thrilled for the opportunity to address and overcome the environmental hurdles of this site, helping revitalize the iconic property into a vibrant community asset. We are incredibly appreciative of Rep. Courtney’s support of this project and continued dedication in advocating for our towns."

Courtney echoed the sentiments.

"Today"s announcement of new EPA funding to support our towns comes straight from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which I voted to pass in the House last October. These grants will help clean up three eligible brownfields in the second district that otherwise would have languished for years," he said. "Cleaning up brownfield sites is particularly important to eastern Connecticut, with its long industrial history. Unlocking these sites will go a long way to catalyze economic development, and funding from the IIJA means that our towns are actually going to create space for economic activity and recreation that will help keep eastern Connecticut growing and thriving."

The Second District is set to receive a total of nearly $2 million in brownfield cleanup funding in all, he added.