“City of Rensselaer is 1 of 10 Communities in New York State to Receive US EPA Grant”
“City of Rensselaer is 1 of 10 Communities in New York State to Receive US EPA Grant”
RENSSELAER, N.Y. (March 19, 2025) – The City of Rensselaer recently learned it is one of ten communities in New York State to receive a Brownfield Assessment and Clean Up Grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency. "The brownfield grants are essential for New York, allowing us to transform neglected sites into thriving community assets that instill pride and drive economic growth,” said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. “By investing in these revitalization efforts, we not only protect our environment but also create job opportunities and improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers."
The City of Rensselaer, NY has been selected to receive $300,000 to conduct eight environmental site assessments to help prioritize polluted sites, develop four cleanup plans, and support reuse planning and community engagement. The target area includes the downtown and commercial corridor, waterfront areas, and properties near the Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Station. This mixed-use redevelopment zone focuses on revitalizing underutilized properties for residential, commercial, and recreational uses. Located within the Hudson River floodplain, the area also presents unique flood risks and challenges that require robust planning to incorporate climate resilience into redevelopment initiatives.
The reuse strategy for priority sites supports the goals of the “Rensselaer Rising” initiative, which was developed through a Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) study that relied on significant public input and coordination between City Administration and the Common Council. “Rensselaer Rising” strives to create a livable, vibrant, and sustainable urban environment that capitalizes on Rensselaer’s assets. These assets include a vibrant waterfront with phenomenal views of the Albany Skyline; a rich history that begins in the colonial era, includes significant industrial activities, maritime trade and railroad travel; and an integrated multi-modal transportation infrastructure.
The planned redevelopment of priority sites follows the BOA study’s recommendations for public-private partnerships and environmentally sustainable land use, aligning closely with Rensselaer’s long-term vision for economic and community growth that capitalizes on its prominent location within the Capital Region and the 800,000+ travelers that come through Rensselaer each year via the Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Train Station.
"The City of Rensselaer is grateful to the US EPA for providing us with this assistance. This initiative will provide new opportunities for residential, commercial, and recreational spaces by remediating brownfield sites, particularly in our downtown and waterfront areas," said Michael Stammel, Mayor of Rensselaer.
EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.9 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. To date, brownfields investments leveraged more than $42 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding was able to leverage, from both public and private sources, more than 220,500 jobs.
The US EPA National Media Release can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-267-million-brownfields-grants-cleanup-communities-across-country and the US EPA NYS Media Release can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-12-million-grants-assess-and-clean-communities-across-new-york
The list of the FY 2025 Applicants Selected for Funding can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applications-selected-fy-2025-brownfields-assessment-revolving-loan-fund-rlf-cleanup
More on the Brownfields Grants can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding. and more on EPA’s Brownfields Program can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields
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