Brownfield Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund

To reclaim abandoned and underutilized brownfield sites for productive reuse, provide additional job opportunities, increase the tax base, improve the quality of life for residents in surrounding neighborhoods, maximize leveraging opportunities from both the private and public sectors and promote the program to private developers, lending institutions, the real estate community and the non-profit sector.

Eligibility

Eligible borrowers can be any public or private entity with control of a brownfield site. Recipients can receive funding to aid with costs directly associated with the environmental cleanup of brownfield sites. Funding is awarded in the form of subgrants and low-interest loans. Only non-profit organizations are eligible for subgrants of up to $200,000, awarded as available. For-profit and non-profit organizations are eligible for low-interest loans.

Eligible Activities

• Actions associated with removing, mitigating or preventing the release or threat of a release of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant.
• Costs associated with meeting public participation, worker health and safety and interagency coordination requirements.
• Site monitoring activities that are reasonable, necessary and incidental during the cleanup process.

Funding

The City of Worcester offers this innovative program through a $1.3 million grant provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The BCRLF offers a number of options to developers, eligible property owners and other community stakeholders interested in the cleanup of brownfield properties:

• Cleanup Insurance Subsidies
• Discounted Loans and Grants
• Federal and State Tax Incentives
• Predevelopment Assistance
• State Financing Programs

Request For Proposals - QEP Services

The City of Worcester has been awarded a Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund (BCRLF) grant in the amount of $6,200,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to fund site cleanup activities. The grant performance period is October 01, 2023 - September 30, 2028.

The City's Executive Office of Economic Development is soliciting proposals from qualified firms or individuals to review and oversee site cleanup activities in accordance with the requirements of the EPA's BCRLF Program. The selected Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) will be responsible for providing the City with third-party review of documents prepared by sub-recipients relative to proposed cleanup costs and activities for various projects. The QEP will also be responsible for monitoring sub-recipient's cleanup activities on a site-specific basis for the City to ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations. The QEP will work under the direction of the Assistant Chief Development Officer for Special Projects.

Specifications regarding the bid notification are attached. Proposals are due by 10 a.m. on March 12, 2025.

• RFP (Request for Proposals)