City pressing state for brownfields grant money
City pressing state for brownfields grant money
First published in the Watertown Daily Times, May 20, 2009
OGDENSBURG — The city is urging state officials to sign off on grants that would bring it $335,500 for studying possible redevelopment of contaminated waterfront property.
City Planning and Economic Development Director J. Justin Woods has written letters and met with representatives of state legislators and the governor to request that $6.7 million from the Brownfield Opportunity Area program be released to Ogdensburg and the other 14 communities that have been recommended to receive the funds.
"We're actively encouraging our leaders to do what they need to do," Mr. Woods said. "We are writing them so we can access the money, so we can start the program. We're ready to go."
In April, the state Department of State recommended the city get the funds, but Gov. David A. Paterson, Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver must sign a memorandum of understanding to release the money, Mr. Woods said. The city applied for $335,000 in December. According to Mr. Woods, a representative from the governor's office said state officials had been busy with the budget, but are now turning their attention to other business. Mr. Woods said he is confident the city will receive the money.
"The governor's office is aware of the delays, and understands how critical these grants are. This issue will be addressed by both the Governor's office and legislature," Morgan Hook, a spokesman for the governor, said in a statement.
In 2003, the state created the brownfields program to provide funding for communities to create redevelopment plans for polluted property, including marketing and economic analyses.
The $335,000 will go toward studying 330 acres that contain 15 sites known to be polluted along the St. Lawrence and Oswegatchie rivers. Mr. Woods expects more of the polluted sites to be identified as the land is proposed for redevelopment. Focus of the study would be on land that once housed the Diamond International, Augsbury Oil and Shade Roller industrial sites.
"Some of the study areas from our different grants overlap and we're using them to leverage each other so we can do more with the money," Mr. Woods said. "The brownfield grant is for the bigger picture. The other grants are focused on remediating the sites."
Jody Kass, co-director of the New Partners for Community Revitalization, a statewide non-profit organization that is spearheading the call for state action, said that the lobbying efforts from the city and similar communities are necessary for the agreement to get signed.
"There's no reason why those resources, which belong in the hands of the communities that are looking to advance economic development housing, haven't moved yet," she said. "It's only been a few months, but we think that's already too long, especially with what's going on with the economy and efforts to get resources into communities.